Page 90 - Zoo Animal Learning and Training

74 Tasks for the Veterinary Assistant

Poll
Crest
Pinna Withers
Forehead Hip
Loin Croup
Back
Crest Stop
Withers Throat Tail
Tail set Flank latch Shoulder Flank
Muzzle
Fews
Chest Shoulder Hock
Hind leg Barrel Stifle
Elbow Gaskin
Tail Forearm
Foreleg *Chestnut
Stifle Elbow Knee
Hock Cannon
*Ergot
Fetlock
Pastern
Pastern Hoof
FIGURE 5.1 Dog and horse body parts. *Chestnuts and ergots are small “horny” growths not seen on this photo. Their locations are indicated by
arrows.

called quadrupeds and humans and birds are bipeds. Cranial Caudal
For that reason, we must adjust our thinking to accom-
modate those legs. There are those animals that allow us
to ride or pack stuff on them and so some of their parts
are a bit different and need to be learned as well. Dor sa l
Figure 5.1 shows the common landmark terms used;
some for all animals, with a few differences marked on
both the dog and horse.
V e n t r a l Proximal
M
e
Learning Exercise Lateral d a i

Practice naming the parts using pictures of dogs l Distal
and horses from the internet.
FIGURE 5.2 Directional terms.

Directional terms are used by veterinarians to write in
medical records, to identify the specific location of a commonly used, more specific directional terms
(Figure 5.2):
lesion or injury that may not be obvious. He/she will use
it to request a radiograph of a specific body part or for an Cranial – towards the head
ultrasound treatment on a certain part of a leg. Learning Rostral –used for locations on the head or in the mouth
the directional terms will speed up the process of taking that means towards the nose
care of animals because you can read what is written in Caudal – towards the tail from the point of reference
the medical record rather than tracking the veterinarian Proximal – closest to the point of attachment
down to ask. Distal – a point further away from the point of
Most animals are quadrupeds, meaning they stand on attachment
four legs. This makes describing where their “front” or The most commonly used terms to describe surface:
their “back” is difficult if you compare them with humans.
Is the back their spine or rump? Is the front the head, Dorsal – the surface area encompassing the length of the
chest, nose, or belly? To eliminate this confusion veteri- spinal column
nary medicine uses terms to describe the various direc- Ventral – the surface area encompassing the abdomen or
tions and surfaces on an animal. belly
The most commonly used terms to describe direction Lateral – towards the middle – the inside of the leg is
are left and right. To be clear when reporting left or closest to the middle of the body
right, it is as if the animal is facing the same way as you, Medial – away from the middle – the outside of the leg is
so your left is its left and vice versa. The following are the away from the middle of the body