1. Discuss the role of major body systems of small animals
Objective 5.01

2. Basic Anatomy terminology for small animals
Cheek- the fleshy side of the face below the eye and above and to the side of the mouth
Dewlap- the loose fold of skin under the chin of an animal, most prominent in female rabbits
Elbow- the upper joint of the front leg just below the shoulder
Flank- the fleshy part of the side between the ribs and the rump (croup)
Foot pad- the part of the foot that the animal walks on
Forearm- the part of the front limb just below the elbow

3. Basic Anatomy terminology for small animals
Guard hairs- the longer, coarse hairs above the shorter under-fur of an animal that protects the animal and under-fur from rain and cold
Hock- the tarsal joint or large joint halfway up the hind limb
Muzzle- the projecting jaw that contains the nose and mouth in some animals
Nose pad- the tip of the nose that may be sensitive and useful for investigating food, water, or unfamiliar objects (called nose leather in cats)
Rump- the upper rounded part of the hindquarter (also called the croup)

4. Basic Anatomy terminology for small animals
Shoulder- the part of an animal’s body just above the elbow of the foreleg
Stifle- the joint next above the hock in the hind leg of a four footed animal
Thigh- the hind limb extending from the rump to the hock
Whiskers- the long projecting hairs or bristles growing near the mouth of an animal

5. Basic Anatomy terminology for birds
Crown- the topmost part of the head
Ear covert- the feathers covering the ears
Mandible- the upper or lower segment of a bill of a bird
Nape- the back of the neck
Orbital ring- a ring encircling the eye of many birds

6. Basic Anatomy terminology for fish, Amphibians, and Reptiles
Brille- the transparent layer permanently covering the eye that serves as the eyelid for snakes
Fins- the web of skin supported with bone or cartilage rods that enable a fish to move through the water
Gills- The major organ of the respiratory system of fish that allows them to breath without lungs
Scales- extensions of the epidermal layer of skin that have been modified to provide protection. (Fish and reptiles may have some type of scales)
Scutes- epidermal scales found on turtles

7. Skeletal Anatomy Skeletal System- Bones
Axial skeleton- vertebral column, ribs, sternum, and skull
Pectoral limb- front limbs including shoulders, legs and feet. Bones are scapula(shoulder blade), humerus (arm), radius and ulna (forearm), carpals, metacarpals and phalanges (toes)
Pelvic limb- rear legs and pelvic bones including hooks, pin bones, femur (upper leg bone), tibia and fibula (lower leg bones), tarsals (hocks), metatarsals (feet), and phalanges (toes)

8. Skeletal system-Structure and Purpose
Purposes- protect vital body organs and give form or shape to body
Skull protects brain, ribs protect lungs and internal organs
Spinal column or backbone protects the spinal cord and provides shape to the animal
Structure consist of bones, cartilage and joints

9. Birds have some unique bones unlike mammals
Most birds have a skull bone that elongates toward the front of the head
Some birds have a skull with an upper beak fused to it while other birds have hinged on both upper and lower (mandibles) giving it more flexibility

10. Internal Anatomy Heart- major organ in the circulatory system
Made up of 3 muscle layers myocardium- second layer muscle that makes up the thickness of the heart, endocardium- thin layer inside myocardium, and epicardium- thin cover over the myocardium
Other parts of the circulatory system are the arteries, capillaries, veins and blood. They all move nutrients, metabolic waste, and oxygen around. Another important role of the circulatory system plays is protection against microbes and injury.

11. Internal Anatomy
Kidneys and bladder-part of the excretory system that rids the body of waste. In addition, the kidneys maintain chemical composition, volume of blood, and tissue fluid
Stomach and intestines- major part of digestive system, which breaks the food down into smaller pieces to be used by the body. Nutrients are gleaned from these food materials

12. Internal Anatomy
Lungs- part of the respiratory system where the oxygen is taken in by the nose, passed on to the lungs and then goes into the blood
Brains, spinal cord, and nerves make up the nervous system. The coordinator of all body activities, regulates other systems, and controls memory and learning.

13. Internal Anatomy
Ovaries (female) and testes (male) make up the reproductive system to produce new individuals of the same species. Ovaries produce eggs and testes produce sperm
Muscles make up the muscular system that gives the body its movement, posture, support, and produces heat

14. Digestive system
Non-ruminants are referred to as single-stomached or mono-gastric animals
The digestive system of rabbits and birds are classified as non-ruminants even though their system is slightly different
Rabbits have a digestive system similar to a horse in that they have a large cecum (place where small and large intestines join) with bacteria present
Therefore, rabbits can eat more high-quality roughage material than other small animals and convert them to nutrients
Rabbits must maintain levels of bacteria in the cecum for digestive process and health. Rabbits eat undigested feces (coprophagy) to help bacterial action

15. Digestive System
Birds have a unique system for breaking down the seed and food they eat
Birds do not have teeth. Saliva is added to assist with swallowing, but very little breakdown of food occurs in the mouth
The largest organ is the ventriculus or gizzard. The gizzard grinds and crushes food before passing it into the small intestine

16. Digestive Process
Food is broken down in the mouth (except birds), stomach (gizzard in birds), and then passed into the small intestine, the primary site for digestion and absorption of carbohydrates, fats and proteins
Undigested food passes from the small intestine into the large intestine where the main activity is the absorption of water from the undigested food and addition of lubricating mucus to aid in passage of waste

17. Digestive Process Digestive systems of FISH vary somewhat
Type of feed fish eat is largely determined by the type of teeth they have
Some fish swallow prey whole while others chew up their food

18. Reproduction in small animals
Sexual reproduction is the union of egg and sperm to produce a new animal
Two parents required: male furnishes sperm (spermatozoa or male animal sex cell) and female supplies egg or ovum (female sex cell)
Natural insemination is the process of male depositing semen into female reproductive tract
Sexual Terminology
Conception- creation of new life by fertilization of an egg
Estrus is the heat period when female is receptive to male and will stand for mating
Fertilization is the union of the egg and sperm
Gestation- period of pregnancy that begins with conception and ends with parturition
Ovulation- releasing an egg for fertilization
Parturition- process of giving birth to young
Pregnant- stage of baby development in reproductive tract

19. Female reproductive anatomy
Ovary- primary reproductive organ produces the egg (female gamete)
Gamete- sex cell that unites with other sex cells
Embryo (developing young) goes to the uterus in mammals after 3-5 days
Uterus- the place of embryo growth and development
The cervix is the part of the uterus that contains rings and cervical mucus to seal the uterus to keep out contaminants during pregnancy
The vagina is the reproduction passageway and place of urine excretion
The vulva is the external opening to the reproductive tract

20. Male reproductive anatomy
Testicle- primary reproductive organ and produces the male gametes (sperm)
Two testicles are held externally in the scrotum or sac that helps control the temperature so that the testicles remain cooler than the body
Sheath- a fold of skin that is a protective covering for the penis

21. Gestation length Cats- 51-65 days Dogs- 56-70 days Rabbits- 30-32 days
Hamsters- 16 days
Gerbils days
Rats/Mice days
Guinea pigs days
Ferrets- 42 days

22. General Characteristics of Gestation
Gestation is usually identified by an increase in the female’s breast and abdominal size, weight, and appetite at various stages of the gestational period
Restlessness is a usual sign that the gestation period is coming to an end and parturition (birthing) is about to take place.
A nesting box of straw, shavings, paper, etc. may be provided for pocket pets and rabbits. Care should be taken not to excite animals at birthing as most do not need assistance.
Dogs and cats should be given a birthing box in a quiet location one to three weeks prior to parturition so that they may get comfortable with the setting.