ANATOMY 1 DIRECTIONAL TERMS

CARPUS

"WRIST" joint that forms the dividing line of the fore limb. Sites closer to the carpus are considered proximal and those farther away distal.

TARSUS

"ANKLE" joint that forms the dividing line for the rear leg. Sites closer to the tarsus are considered proximal and those farther away are distal.

BRISKET - BOVINE

Area at the base of the neck between the front legs, that covers the cranial end of the sternum.

PERINEAL REGION - CANINE

Area between the anus and genitalia.

WITHERS - EQUINE or BOVINE

Area dorsal to the scapulas.

*ABDOMINAL REGION - CANINE

Area of the body between the thorax and pelvis containg the abdominal cavity and organs.

INGUINAL REGION - CANINE

Area of the body pertaining to the groin created at the junction between the abdomen and the thigh.

*PASTERN - EQUINE

Area of the proximal phalanx of hoofed animals.

PLANTAR

Bottom surface of a rear foot. It is the most distal part of the TARSUS.

PALMAR

Bottom surface of the fron paws.

*KNEE - EQUINE

Carpus of a hoofed animal. Carpus refers to the wrist in humans.

AXIAL

Directing towards the axis.

FRONTAL PLANE

Equivalent to the dorsal plane in four-legged animals. Divides the body into anterior and posterior parts.

REGIONAL ANATOMY

Examination of a specific body part (e.g. the neck). Difficult to distinguish boundaries with adjacent body "parts".

SYSTEMIC ANATOMY

Examination of body systems. We can compare how different body systems interact with each other.

DEWLAP - BOVINE

Loose skin under the throat and neck which may be pendulous in some breeds.

BILATERAL SYMMETRY

Occurs when right and left halves are mirror images of one another. Occurs also when considering paired organs (lungs, kidneys, feet, and hands).

PRONATION

Occurs when the plantar surface of the paw is turned backwards. This happens in animals other than primates.

*CRANIAL

Part of the body facing the head (cranium).

*PES - CANINE

Part of the distal rear limb between the tarsus and the digits.

*ANTEBRACHIUM - CANINE

Part of the front limb the elbow and the carpus.

RECUMBENT DORSAL

Refers to positioing an animal on its dorsal surface. The animal is laid onto its back for a procedure or examination.

RECUMBENT LATERAL

Refers to positioning an animal onto its left or right side for an examination or procedure.

ABAXIAL

Situated away from the AXIS of the body, limb, or part. Directing away from the axis.

PERITONEAL CAVITY

Small space created between two layers of peritoneum. Parietal peritoneum lines the abdominal and pelvic cavities and visceral peritoneum covers the organs located in the cavities.

ANATOMY

Study of body forms and structures. Where are parts found and what do they look like?

MICROSCOPIC ANATOMY

Study of structures that cannot be seen without a microscope.

PHYSIOLOGY

Study that focuses on the study of how things work in the body.

*HOCK - EQUINE

Tarsus of a hoofed animal. Tarsus refers to the ankle in humans.

*DIAPHRAGM

The thin dome-shaped sheet of muscle that separates the thoracic and abdominal cavities.

*PROXIMAL

Used when referencing extremities, ears, and tails. Sites are closer to the main body.

*DISTAL

Used when referencing extrmities, ears, and tails. Sites are farther away from the main body.

*MEDIASTINUM

A median septum or partition.

SUPERFICIAL

A site on the body that is closer to the surface. Can also be likened to EXTERNAL.

*VENTRAL

A term that means "toward" the belly or bottom surface.

ANATOMICAL PLANES

Imaginary lines used to create directional referencing of the body. They include: sagittal, median, transverse, and dorsal.

MUZZLE - CANINE

Rostral part of the face formed mainly by the maxillary and nasal bones.

MUZZLE - EQUINE

Rostral part of the face formed mainly by the maxillary and nasal bones.

*ROSTRAL

Term used to describe positions or directions on the head. Means toward the tip of the nose. If the site is toward the tail, it is CAUDAL.

LINEA ALBA - CANINE

The tendinous median line on the ventral abdominal wall between the two rectus muscles.

BARREL - EQUINE or BOVINE

Trunk of the body - formed by the rib cage and the abdomen.

PELVIS - HOOK BONES - BOVINE

Tuber Coxae - the point of the hip and the most lateral point of the ilium.

PELVIS - PIN BONES - BOVINE

Tuber Ischii - the triangular ischial tuber

SYSTEM

A collection of organs working to perform a specific function with the body. There are 11 systems within the bodys. They include: cardiovascular, digestive, endocrine, integumentary, muscular, nervous, reproductive, respiratory, sensory, skeletal, and urinary.

SUPERIOR

A directional term meaning "toward the head" of the human body.

INFERIOR

A directional term meaning "toward the lower portion" of a human body.

DEEP

A site on the body that is closer to the core of the body. Can also be likened to INTERNAL.

*OBLIQUE PLANE

A slanted or inclined disvison through the body. Does not reference a horizontal or vertical plane through the body.

*LATERAL

A term that means "away from" the medial plane of the body. The site is to the outside of the body.

*MEDIAL

A term that means "toward" the medial plane of the animal. The site is closer to the body.

*DORSAL

A term that refers to an area that is "toward" the back. Top surface of the rear or front paw.

DIAPHRAGM - AORTIC HIATUS

An opening in the diaphragm through which the aorta passes.

*THORACIC REGION - CANINE

Area of the body refererred to as the chest cavity. The diaphragm (a thin sheet-like muscle) separates it from the abdomanl cavity.

ORAL CAVITY

Area of the body referred to as the mouth. It contains the teeth and tongue.

CIRCUMDUCTION

Circular movement of a limb or an eye.

SUPINATION

In humans, rotation of the forearm to bring the palm to face upwards. In animals, this rang of motion is reduced to 90 degrees.

*FETLOCK - EQUINE

Joint between cannon bone (large metacarpal or metatarsal bone of a hoofed animal) and the proximal phalanxof hoofed animals.

*CAUDAL

Part of the body facing the tail (cauda).

*MANUS - CANINE

Part of the distal front limb between carpus and digits.

*BRACHIUM - CANINE

Part of the proximal front limb between the shoulder and elbow.

*THIGH - CANINE

Part of the rear limb between the hip and stifle (knee).

*CRUS - CANINE

Part of the rear limb between the stifle (knee) and tarsus.

AXIS

Pertaining to a line through a center of a body or about which a structure rotates.

*PELVIS - CANINE

Pertains to the caudal portion of the trunk of the body. This area contains a basin bounded ventrally and laterally by the hip bones and dorsally by the sacrum and coccygeal vertebrae.

*ABDOMINAL CAVITY

Portion of the body found between the thorax and the the pelvis containing the abdominal organs. Separated from the thorax by the diaphragm.

*THORACIC CAVITY

Portion of the body pertaining to the chest. It is found between the neck and abdomen. It is separated from the abdomen by the diaphragm.

RECUMBENT STERNAL

Refers to postioning an animal onto its belly/ventral side with its dorsal surfacae facing up.

MACROSCOPIC ANATOMY

Study of structures that can be seen without a microsope.

ABDUCTION

Swinging away from the main body.

ADDUCTION

Swinging toward the main body.

*COCCYGEAL OR CAUDAL VERTEBRAL REGION

The area that contains the bones of the tail portion of the spinal cord.

*LUMBAR VERTEBRAL REGION

The area that contains the vertebrae located dorsal to the abdominal region.

*THORACIC VERTEBRAL REGION

The area that contains the vertebrae located dorsal to the thoracic cavity.

*SACRAL VERTEBRAL REGION

The area that contains the vertebrae of the pelvic region. The sacral vertebrae fuse into a solid structure known as the sacrum.

*CERVICAL VERTEBRAL REGION

The area that contins the bones of the neck portion of the spinal column.

THROAT LATCH - EQUINE

The area under the throat where the head and neck are joined.

*PELVIC INLET

The cranial opening of the pelvis.

TAIL HEAD - BOVINE

The dorsal aspect of the root of the tail.

RUMP - BOVINE

The gluteal region; the region around the pelvis, hind quarters and buttocks.

HEART GIRTH - EQUINE or BOVINE

The greatest circumference of the chest in horses and dogs, just behind the withers, shoulder and elbow.

SWITCH - BOVINE

The hairy part of the tail of a cow.

PARALUMBAR FOSSA - BOVINE

The holow of the flank, bounded dorsally by the transverse processes of the lumbar vertebrae, ,cranially by the last rib, and caudally by the muscles of the thigh.

MEDIAN PLANE

The imaginary line that "cuts" the body down the center of the body along the medial line. Right and left portions are equal in size. Sometimes referred to as MIDSAGITTAL.

SAGITTAL PLANE

The imaginary line that "cuts" the body to the right or left of the medial plane. The portions are considered right and left and are NOT equal in size.

TRANSVERSE PLANE

The imaginary vertical line that "cuts the body into cranial and caudal portions. One section contains the head and the other contains the tail. Portions may or may not be equal.

FLEXION

The joint movement that decreases the angle between two bones. Curling the limb upaward.

EXTENSION

The joint movement that increased the angle between two bones. Extending the limb downward.

LOIN - EQUINE or BOVINE

The lumbar region of the back, between the thorax and pelvis.

CROUP - EQUINE

The muscular area around and above the base of the tail in the horse.

UMBILICUS - CANINE

The scar marking the entry of the umbilical cord in the fetus.

FLANK - EQUINE or BOVINE

The side of the body between the ribs and the ilium.

DORSAL PLANE

This imaginary line that "cuts" the body into dorsal and ventral sections. The plane runs parallel to the ground. Sections may or may not be equal.

POLL - BOVINE

Top of the head between the bases of the ears. Can have horns (horned) or no horns (polled).