Anatomy Terminology **You will need these notes throughout the WHOLE year!**

Why do we need to learn these words? Veterinarians use these terms to discuss the animal injuries, where to inject shots, or just general explanations of animals. Veterinarians use these terms to discuss the animal injuries, where to inject shots, or just general explanations of animals. If you decide to go into the field of veterinarian medicine, you will already have an advantage in your degree or job! If you decide to go into the field of veterinarian medicine, you will already have an advantage in your degree or job!

Directional Terms Adjacent: Next to, adjoining, or close to Adjacent: Next to, adjoining, or close to Cranial: Position more towards the CRANIUM or head end of the body. (can also be craniad or cranially) Cranial: Position more towards the CRANIUM or head end of the body. (can also be craniad or cranially) Caudal: position more towards the tail end of the body. (can also be cudad or caudally) Caudal: position more towards the tail end of the body. (can also be cudad or caudally)

Cephalic: Pertaining to the head (not used as frequently as cranial) Cephalic: Pertaining to the head (not used as frequently as cranial) Rostral: pertaning to the nose end or towards the nose Rostral: pertaning to the nose end or towards the nose Dorsal: pertaining to the back area of the quadruped (an animal with 4 legs) or a position more toward the back. Dorsal: pertaining to the back area of the quadruped (an animal with 4 legs) or a position more toward the back. Ventral: the belly or the underside of a quadruped or toward the belly (down) Ventral: the belly or the underside of a quadruped or toward the belly (down) Lateral: a position farther away from the median plane of the body or of a structure (ex. The lateral surface of the leg is the outside surface) Lateral: a position farther away from the median plane of the body or of a structure (ex. The lateral surface of the leg is the outside surface)

Medial: a position closer to the median plane of the body or of a structure Medial: a position closer to the median plane of the body or of a structure Oblique: at an angle or pertaining to an angle Oblique: at an angle or pertaining to an angle Superficial: near the surface; not deep Superficial: near the surface; not deep Deep: situated far beneath the surface Deep: situated far beneath the surface Peripheral: situated near the outer areas or surface of a body or structure Peripheral: situated near the outer areas or surface of a body or structure

Proximal: nearest to the center of the body relative to another body part, or a location on a body part relative to another more distant location Proximal: nearest to the center of the body relative to another body part, or a location on a body part relative to another more distant location Distal: farthest from the center of the body relative to another body part, or a location on a body part relative to another closer location Distal: farthest from the center of the body relative to another body part, or a location on a body part relative to another closer location Superior: above or directed above Superior: above or directed above Inferior: below or directed below Inferior: below or directed below

Postitional Terms Caudal: back side of the leg above the carpus and tarsus Caudal: back side of the leg above the carpus and tarsus Cranial: front side of the leg above the carpus and tarsus Cranial: front side of the leg above the carpus and tarsus Dorsal: the front side of the leg from the carpus and tarsus distally (what is that again??) Dorsal: the front side of the leg from the carpus and tarsus distally (what is that again??) Palmar or volar: the caudal surface of the front leg from the carpus to the phalanges (includes the bottom surface of the front foot) Palmar or volar: the caudal surface of the front leg from the carpus to the phalanges (includes the bottom surface of the front foot)

Plantar: caudal surface of the hind leg from the hock to the phalanges (includes the bottom surface of the hind foot) Plantar: caudal surface of the hind leg from the hock to the phalanges (includes the bottom surface of the hind foot) Pronation: the act of turning the body or arm so the palm is down Pronation: the act of turning the body or arm so the palm is down Prone: to lie face down Prone: to lie face down Recumbent: lying down (modifying this term also tells which way the animal is lying down: ex. Dorsal recumbency= the animal is lying on its back) Recumbent: lying down (modifying this term also tells which way the animal is lying down: ex. Dorsal recumbency= the animal is lying on its back)

Supination: the act of turning the body or arm so the palm is up Supination: the act of turning the body or arm so the palm is up Supine: to lie face up Supine: to lie face up

Anatomical Terms Abdominal: abdomen Abdominal: abdomen Antebrachium: the distal area of the front legs of an animal, below the elbow joint Antebrachium: the distal area of the front legs of an animal, below the elbow joint Appendicular: the limbs and their attachments to the axis of the body Appendicular: the limbs and their attachments to the axis of the body Axial: the head, neck and trunk related to the axis of the body Axial: the head, neck and trunk related to the axis of the body

Axillary: pertaining to the armpit area Axillary: pertaining to the armpit area Brachial: the proximal area of the front legs of an animal, above the elbow joint Brachial: the proximal area of the front legs of an animal, above the elbow joint Cervical: the neck area Cervical: the neck area Coccygeal: the tail or vertebrae of the tail Coccygeal: the tail or vertebrae of the tail Cranium: the part of the skill that encases the brain Cranium: the part of the skill that encases the brain Crural: the rear legs of an animal Crural: the rear legs of an animal Digital: the area of the foot where the animal’s toes, or toe bones, are located Digital: the area of the foot where the animal’s toes, or toe bones, are located

Frontal: pertaining to the forehead Frontal: pertaining to the forehead Inguinal: pertaining to the groin Inguinal: pertaining to the groin Lumbar: pertaining to the lumbar vertebrae Lumbar: pertaining to the lumbar vertebrae Mammary: pertaining to the mammary glands Mammary: pertaining to the mammary glands Nasal: nose Nasal: nose Oral: mouth Oral: mouth Orbital: pertaining to the bony eye socket Orbital: pertaining to the bony eye socket Patellar: the patella or kneecap Patellar: the patella or kneecap

Pelvic: pertaining to the pelvis or hip bones Pelvic: pertaining to the pelvis or hip bones Perineal: pertaining to the region between or surrounding the anus and the external genitalia Perineal: pertaining to the region between or surrounding the anus and the external genitalia Peritoneal: pertaining to the cavity inside the abdomen and the membrane that line it Peritoneal: pertaining to the cavity inside the abdomen and the membrane that line it Pleural: the cavity inside the chest and the membranes that line it Pleural: the cavity inside the chest and the membranes that line it

Popliteal: the caudal area or back of the true knee (the stifle joint) where the popliteal lymph node is located Popliteal: the caudal area or back of the true knee (the stifle joint) where the popliteal lymph node is located Pubic: pertaining to the bone located between the animal’s rear legs, known as the pubic bone Pubic: pertaining to the bone located between the animal’s rear legs, known as the pubic bone Quadrants: arbitrary divisions of the abdominal cavity into 4 equal sections using the mid-abdominal transverse and medial planes as the dividing lines Quadrants: arbitrary divisions of the abdominal cavity into 4 equal sections using the mid-abdominal transverse and medial planes as the dividing lines

Sacral: pertaining to the sacrum, the fused vertebrae by which the pelvis is attached to the backbone Sacral: pertaining to the sacrum, the fused vertebrae by which the pelvis is attached to the backbone Scapular: the scapula or shoulder blade area Scapular: the scapula or shoulder blade area Sternal: the region of the sternum or breastbone Sternal: the region of the sternum or breastbone Stifle: the true knee, or femorotibial joint Stifle: the true knee, or femorotibial joint

Thoracic: the thorax or chest Thoracic: the thorax or chest Umbilical: pertaining to the umbilicus or navel (bellybutton) Umbilical: pertaining to the umbilicus or navel (bellybutton) Vertebral: the vertebrae or spinal column Vertebral: the vertebrae or spinal column