Name:__________________________________________________________________
Spanish Fork Agricultural Education
Veterinary Assisting
Veterinary Terminology
Introduction: The field of veterinary medicine has adopted a common language used by all veterinary
professionals working at all levels of the industry. A basic knowledge and foundation of veterinary
medical terminology will help the veterinary assistant communicate with other veterinary professionals,
understand treatments and procedures within the veterinary facility, and allow the veterinary assistant to
properly enter and record medical records in patient charts. This unit will focus on beginning to learn the
basics of how to pronounce a word, how to break down and interpret word parts, and how these words
apply to animals and areas of veterinary medical practice.
I can:
2.1 Define common veterinary medical terms related to direction, species, patient history, and
pharmacy; and
Criteria: 70% correctly
Assessment: Written Exam
2.2 Analyze veterinary medical terms to determine the prefix , suffix, and root word;
Criteria: 70% correctly
Assessment: Written Exam
2.3 Identify the meaning of common prefixes;
Criteria: 70% correctly
Assessment: Written Exam
2.4 Identify the meaning of common suffixes;
Criteria: 70% correctly
Assessment: Written Exam
2.5 Identify the meaning of common root words;
Criteria: 70% correctly
Assessment: Written Exam
2.6 Identify and use common veterinary medical abbreviations.
Criteria: 70% correctly
Assessment: Written Exam
Student Activities:
Prefix, Root (Common Form), Notes
Dice Activity
Directional Terminology Worksheet & Gummy Bears Lab
Common Terminology Notes
Veterinary Abbreviations Worksheets
Veterinary Terminology Review
Terminology Test
Veterinary Medical Terminology
Learning new vocabulary terms is a part of leaning any new language, veterinary terminology is the language of
veterinary medicine.
Veterinary terms are often based on ______________ and ______________.
Learning to Dissect a Veterinary Term
Words are made of prefix, root (common form), and suffix.
______________ is the word part at the beginning of a term.
Root word is the part of the word that gives the term its essential ______________. A term may have more than
one root word.
______________ is the part of the word at the end of the term.
Combining vowel that is attached to a root word and allows terms to be pronounced more easily.
The key to learning terminology is to break down each word into parts and learn the most common roots,
prefixes, suffixes, and combing forms.
Root Word (Common Form)
__________ part and core meaning of word.
Gives you a general idea of what you’re dealing with or specify a body part.
Common Root Words
ARTHR/O
CARDI/O
CHEM/O
COL/O
CUTANE/O
CYST/0
DENT/O
ELECTR/O
ENTER/O
GASTR/O
HEM/O
HEPAT/O
HYSTER/O
LAPAR/O
MAST
NAS/O
NEPHR/O
OSTE/O
OVARI/O
RADI/O
RACT/O
RHIN/O
URIN/O
UTER/O
Prefix
Placed at the __________ of the word.
A prefix can never stand alone. Modifies the roots meaning to form a new word
PREFIX
MEANING
EXAMPLE
A- OR ANABADDYSECTOENDOEXOHYPERHYPOINTERINTRAOLIGOPERIPOLYPOSTPRESUBSUPER-
DEFINITION
Suffix
Word part found at the __________ of a word.
Usually indicates procedure, condition, disease, or disorder. Like prefixes, they cannot stand alone.
SUFFIX
MEANING
EXAMPLE
DEFINITION
-CENTESIS
-ECTOMY
-EMIA
-GRAM
-GRAPH
-GRAPHY
-ITIS
-LOGY-LYSIS
-MEGALY
-OSIS
-PATHY
-PLEXY
-PLASTY
-RRHAGE
-SCOPE
-SCOPY
-STOMY
-THERAPY
-TOMY
Combining Forms (Combining Vowel)
Vowel commonly used: “___________________”
General Rule 1:
If the suffix starts with a _____________________, connect the rootword and the suffix with the vowel
“________________”.
 Example 1:
Root Word
+
Cardi +
______________
CV
-o-
Suffix
New word
-logy
Cardiology
_____________ ___________________________
General Rule 2: If the suffix starts with a ______________________
DO NOT USE the vowel “o”.
Just attach the _______________________ to the root word.
 Example 2:
Root Word
+
Suffix
New word
Hepat/o
-osis
Hepatosis
________________ _______________
___________________________
General Rule 3: If the suffix begins with the __________________ vowel as the root word, DO NOT repeat
the vowel.
 Example 3:
Root Word
+
Suffix
New word
Cardi
-itis
Carditis
________________ _______________
___________________________
Veterinary Terminology
Dice Activity
Directions:





Choose a group of 3 people including yourself
Each group will create and build 3 die.
o One will be for Prefixes
o One will be for Root Words
o One will be for Suffixes
For each dice, select 6 terms. Write 1 term on every side of the dice. Example: on the Prefixes dice you will
select 6 terms to label the 6 sides, do the same with the Root words and Suffixes.
Once you have labeled and constructed the three dice, take turns rolling the dice and list the prefix, the root word
and the suffix
Use the correct combining vowel if necessary to make it a word.
Prefix
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
Root Word
Suffix
Word
Meaning
Directional Terminology Worksheet
Directions: Label the drawing with the directional terms:
Cranial
Dorsal
Caudal
Ventral
Proximal
Anterior
Distal
Posterior
Directions: Label the drawing with the 3-dimensional and surface planes. Use colored pencils to shade each
plane.
Frontal
Transverse
Median
Sagittal
Superficial
Deep
1.
Divide these animals with a frontal plane
2.
Label the dorsal and ventral regions of these animals
3.
Divide these animals into a median and a sagittal plane
4.
Label these animals as being a lateral, posterior, or anterior view.
.
5.
Label the cranial and caudal regions on these animals
6.
Divide these animals with a transverse plane.
7.
Label the proximal and distal on the horse’s legs and the parrot’s tail.
Directional Terminology
Gummy Bear Dissection
Materials:
 Gummy Bears
 Plastic Knife
 Napkin or Paper Plate
Directions:


Divide each gummy bear using the plastic knife
LABEL each view
1. Dorsal & Ventral surfaces
2. Anterior and Posterior Views
3. Cranial & Caudal portions
4. Place the gummy bear on its legs, like a four-legged animal stands. Cut one of the legs into
proximal and distal portions.
5. Place gummy bear on its legs, like a four-legged animal stands. Cut along the transverse plane to
divide into cranial and caudal parts.
6. Place gummy bear on its side, like a four-legged animal lying down. Cut along the frontal plane to
divide into dorsal and ventral parts.
7. Place Gummi on its legs, like a four-legged animal stands, and place it in an anterior view facing
you. Cut it along the median plane to break into equal, symmetrical right and left halves.
8. Place Gummi on its legs, like a four-legged animal stands, and place it in an anterior view facing
you. Cut along any sagittal plane except the median plane to divide it into unequal right and left
halves.
9. Repeat and label your favorite “dissection” with any remaining gummy bears!
Common Animal Terms
Intact female dog
Group of new born
dogs
Young dog
Intact male dog
The labor process of
dogs
Young cat
Intact male cat and
turkey male turkey
Intact female cat
The labor process of
cats
Male rabbit, goat, and
deer
Female rabbit, goat,
deer
Labor process of
rabbits and ferrets
Young rabbit and ferret
Neutered male rabbit
Neutered male ferret
Intact male ferret
Intact female ferret
Neutered female ferret
Male pig and guinea
pig
Young dog, guinea pig,
and mouse
Female pig and guinea
pig
Female rat, mouse, and
a term for a female
parent that is breeding
Male rat, mouse, and a
term for a male parent
that is breeding
Group of horses
Horse over 14.2 hands
Young chicken
Male chicken
Group of birds
Female chicken or
turkey
Group of eggs
Young chicken or
turkey
Young castrated male
chicken
Immature male chicken
Immature female
chicken
Male chicken
Male duck
Female duck
Young duck
Young castrated male
pig
Labor process of swine
Young female pig that
has not farrowed
Young pig
Male pig castrated after
maturity
Young male horse
Young female horse
Young horse
Castrated male horse or
llama
The measurement of a
horse equal to 4 inches
Labor process of sheep
Intact male sheep
Intact adult female
horse
Horse under 14.2 hands
in height
Intact adult male horse
Young horse under a
year of age
Young horse between 1
and 2 years of age
Donkey crossed with
donkey
Intact male donkey
Intact female donkey
Intact female sheep
Young sheep
Castrated male sheep or
goat
Labor process of dairy
producing animals
Young goat
Labor process of goats
Intact male cow or
llama
Young llama
Labor process of cows
Young female cow that
has not been bred
Mature castrated male
cow
Young castrated male
cow
Species Terms
Frog or toad
Bird
Cow
Dog
Goat
Guinea pig
Horse
Cat
Rabbit
Rat or mouse
Sheep
Pig or swine
Chicken and turkey
Monkey and ape
Snake and lizard
Turtle
Veterinary Abbreviations
Why are abbreviations used?
Common Abbreviations that are used in the veterinary medical field.
ABBREVIATION
ad lib.
sid
bid
tid
qid
qh
qd
w/o
Stat
N
DSH
DLH
Dx
Hx
Rx
Sx
FeLV
FIA
FIP
ECG
ICU
cc
ml
wt
HR
PCV
sg
TPR
UA,U/A
IM
IP
IV
Sub-Q
rbc
wbc
DVM
CNS
GI
DOA
DOB
MEANING
Female
Male
Practicing
Veterinary Abbreviations
Purpose: Veterinarians and their staff use dozens of abbreviations each day. It is important to know the correct
meaning for each abbreviation, otherwise serious mistakes could be made.
Directions: Read each sentence and write the correct abbreviation above the underlined words.
1. Doctor Center is needed in the intensive care unit immediately. His patient just came out of surgery and needs an
electrocardiogram.
2. Snowball is a female domestic long hair cat. She needs vaccinated for Feline Leukemia Virus, Feline Infectious
Anemia, and Feline Infectious Peritonitis.
3. Please write a prescription for 6 milliliters of penicillin to be given three times a day.
4. As a vet tech you will have to monitor temperature, pulse, and respiration, every day, every hour.
5. The test results for specific gravity, urinalysis, packed cell volume, and white blood cell count are all normal.
6. Intramuscular, intravenous, subcutaneous, and intraperitoneal are all routes to administer injections.
7. The date of birth for Max, a domestic short hair male cat, is 10/10/00.
8. The Doctor of Veterinary Medicine took a history on his patient and listened to his gastrointestinal sounds before he
wrote his diagnosis.
9. Most cats are fed as much as they want, whereas dogs are usually fed twice a day.
1 0 . The dog that arrived dead on arrival was suspected to have a central nervous system disease.
11. A 3 year old male Labrador retriever was brought in after being hit by a car. He was pronounced dead on arrival.
12. The 2 year old female yorkie was given a physical examination after being bit by another dog. The dog was still in
shock and showed an extremely slow capillary refill time. Severe lacerations are found around the left thorax.
Intravenous fluids were started immediately to stabilize the patient to further diagnose the injuries.
13. Max, a 12 year old Shih Tzu male was presented with vomiting and diarrhea that has been going on for 3 days. The
dog was lethargic and hasn’t been eating or drinking. A Urinalysis was found within normal limits. Temperature, Pulse,
and Respiration were within normal limits. Packed cell volume was low. Due to a high white blood cell count, Max will
go home with antibiotics to be given three times per day for 10 days by mouth.
Clinical Situation:
A 6 year old spayed female domestic long hair cat was seen at the veterinary clinic for a physical examination
due to vomiting and diarrhea. The cat has a history of being within normal limits. A temperature, pulse, and
respiration rate was found to be within normal limits. The cat’s weight is recorded as 11 pounds. The vet
evaluated a complete blood count and radiographs to rule out infection and disease. The diagnosis is found to
be acute colitis. The treatment is prepared. The cat’s owner is to give 2 tablets of Metronidazole by mouth
once a day. The owner is to monitor the cat’s bowel movements. A recheck visit was scheduled.