ICEV External Anatomy of Livestock: Terms & Terminology - CC - UPDATED: External Anatomy of Livestock: Terms & Terminology - External Components of Livestock - Student Notes

Feathers

Are keratinous structures found on avian species originating from within the epidermis Provide efficient insulation and aides in the animal's ability to fly

Vibrissae

Are long or 1stiff hairs on the face or nostrils of an animal also known as whiskers Responsible for tactile or touch sensation Are possessed by many 2mammalian creatures, including livestock Is derived from the Latin word "Vibro," which means to vibrate

Horns

Are permanent projections which grow on the head of various hoofed animals Consist of a bone core, attached to the animal's skull Include the following uses: fighting for dominance of territory mating and courtship defense Farm Fact: Bird beaks and talons are composed of keratin structurally similar to horns. Turn from 1connective tissue to bone as an animal matures Are often removed early in an animal's life before bone is fully formed dehorning is done to prevent injury and 2bruising of animals

Mammary Papilla

Are the openings which lead to the 1mammary glands Can be found on both male and female mammals Is known as an udder in cows, sheep and goats Farm Fact: Mammary papilla can also be referred to as 2teats.

Hooves

Are the tips or the toes of a mammal with hooves, also referred to as an ungulate Can be accompanied by a smaller structured hoof farther up the leg known as a dewclaw Farm Fact: Many livestock species contain a cloven hoof, which is split into two toes.

Hair & Wool

Are threadlike pigmented structures which grow from follicles within the dermis Differ compositionally due to different keratin types varies among species Acts as an insulator and assists in regulating the temperature of the body

External Components of Livestock

Include: skin keratinous structures auricles nares vibrissae mammary papilla tail

Tail

Is a 1flexible appendage attached to the trunk which contains the coccygeal vertebrae Can be used for the following:brush away 2biting insects and flies show social signaling and indicate an animal's emotion

Keratin

Is a protein formed within the epidermis Can be found in many forms within and animal Is a structural component of epidermal tissues, such as: hair and wool feathers hooves protein horns

Hypodermis

Is the innermost region of the integumentary system Responsible for attaching the skin to muscle and bone Also referred to as the subcutaneous layer

Skin

Is the soft outer covering of an animal Is the largest organ on the body Consists of three layers: epidermis dermis hypodermis Farm Fact: The skin is one of the first systems affected for sick animals.

Epidermis

Is the thin, outer layer of the skin Acts as a physical barrier to water loss Forms by a division of cells, which pushes other cells to the surface the old cells then die and are shed Produces different types of keratin which form hair, wool, hooves and horns Farm Fact: The epidermis contains melanin, which is responsible for skin, fur and wool pigmentation.

Auricle

Refers to the external portion of the ear Is used to collect and focus the sound toward the ear canal Where an ear tag is attached Farm Fact: An ear tag is a plastic or metal object used to identify the animal, prevent theft and control disease outbreaks in livestock.

Dermis

Refers to the middle layer of the skin Is responsible for:regulating temperature supplying the epidermis with nutrient-saturated bloodhousing the hair follicles, nerve endings and pressure receptors

Nares

Refers to the two external openings of the nose which lead to the nasal cavity Are the location of air entry and exit from the animal's respiratory system Can also be referred to as: nose muzzle nostril nasal