AGRICULTURE EDUCATION
Introduction to Veterinary Medical Science
Unit I: Anatomy and Physiology
Terminal Objective: The student shall know the anatomy and physiology of certain body systems.
Lesson: Topic I -2 The Skeletal System
Lesson objective(s):

Students will investigate the body systems and gain a working knowledge of how each system functions, its purpose, and how
it is affected by disease.

Students will develop a vocabulary of directional anatomical terms and will be able to identify anatomical structures of animals.

Students will apply their knowledge by dissection and assembling anatomical models.
Essential Question(s): What is considered to be a normal body system?
Estimated Time: 1 period
Course TEKS: The student will investigate the body systems
and gain a working knowledge of how each system functions,
its purpose, and how it is affected by disease. The student is
expected to:

(c)(6)(A) identify the parts of the skeletal, muscular,
respiratory, circulatory, nervous, urinary, reproductive,
endocrine, and Integumentary systems.

(c)(6)(B) describe the functions of skeletal, muscular,
respiratory, circulatory, nervous, urinary, reproductive,
endocrine, and Integumentary system.

(c)(6)(C) apply knowledge of veterinary anatomy by
identifying areas for injections, measuring vital signs and
collecting blood samples for various animal species.
TAKS Objectives
English LA:
Math:
Science:
Social Studies:
Instructional Mode: Lecture, whole group, partners, and
individual
Enabling Objectives:
1.
Identify the parts and functions of the skeletal systems of
animals.
Concepts Important to Know and Understand:
1.
2.
3.
Anatomy and physiology are the foundations on which
veterinary medicine is built.
Each complex system of an animal’s body is designed to
work in unison with all other body systems. When one
system malfunctions, other systems are also affected.
A basic understanding of veterinary anatomy and
physiology is essential for the veterinary assistant.
Terms to Know:
Evaluations:
Informal

Teacher observation of the students as they engage in discussions and activities related to this unit and the willingness to take
the initiative to follow up on non-graded assignments.
Formal

Evaluation of a cognitive test centered on the technical or subject matter information covered for each of the enabling
objectives.
NOTES:
DAY 2
Knowing the Skeletal System
Why do we need to study the skeleton system?
Focus Questions
Engaging Activities
1. What is the skeletal system?
1a. Have students read “Animal
Science”
8646-C
and
complete the student activities
for
additional
information
concerning
the
skeleton
system.
1b. Using slide 3, define the
skeletal system.
2. What skill areas will be
strengthened by knowing the
anatomy and physiology of the
skeleton system?
2. Using slides 4-5 discuss the
skill areas that are reinforced
by knowing the skeletal system.
Skeleton Parts
What is the purpose of the skeleton system?
Focus Questions
Engaging Activities
1. What bones can you name? 1. For about 5 minutes have
Possible replies:
students brainstorm in groups
and develop a list of bones

Skull
found in their bodies.
List

Leg
these on the board.

Arm

Ribs
2. What purposes does the
skeleton system serve?
Possible replies:

Allows us to move
2. Using slide 6 discuss the
purposes of the skeletal
system.
3.
Read Chapter 7 in the
Laboratory
Manual
for
Comparative
Veterinary
Anatomy and Physiology;
Phillip E. Cochran, MS, DVM;
Thomson
Learning
have
students.
Additional Information
It is the bony tissues that form
the framework of an animal’s
body
and
serves
many
functions.
Of all the body
systems the skeletal system
from one species to the next
has the greatest variation in
structure.
Learning the different parts of
the skeletal systems will help
you to become better skilled at
restraint,
giving
injections,
drawing blood, and especially
radiography.
All
these
techniques use bones and their
prominences as landmarks for
these tasks.
Additional Information
The framework of an animal’s
body not only serves as levers
for body movement they also
function in the following ways:
It protects vital body organs;
i.e. the skull protects the brain,
the rib cage protects the heart,
lungs, and certain abdominal
organs, and the vertebrae
protect the spinal column. The
protection of the brain and
central nervous system is
critical, because if nerve tissue
is damaged or destroyed it is
not repaired or replaced; which
can result in permanent
damage.
Bones also serve as a storage
site for minerals such as
calcium and phosphorus. In
addition the bones of the body
are the site for blood formation.
NOTES: Day 2 continued on next page
Reference Materials
Animal Care Training – ppt
TOPIC I-2 – The Skeletal
System - Slides 3-4-5
Instructional
Materials
Service,
Texas
A&M
University, “Animal Science”
(Agri-science 332) catalog No.
8831B)
Veterinary
Assistant
Handbook, IV-1-1 by Dr.
Floron C. Faries available from
Instructional
Materials
Services; TAMU
Reference Materials
Animal Care Training – ppt
TOPIC I-2 – The Skeletal
System - Slide 6
Veterinary
Science
Curriculum
Package
–
“Anatomy and Physiology”;
CMS – Ohio State - order
number PID146
Laboratory
Manual
for
Comparative
Veterinary
Anatomy and Physiology;
Phillip E. Cochran, MS, DVM;
Thomson Learning
Veterinary
Assistant
Handbook, IV-1-1 by Dr.
Floron C. Faries available from
Instructional
Materials
Services; TAMU
DAY 2 continued
Skeleton Divisions
The skeleton is divided into how many divisions?
Focus Questions
Engaging Activities
Using slides 7-8-9 and
1.
What sections is the 1.
skeleton divided into?
handout 3; p. 21-22 and
Possible replies:
handout 4; p. 23-24 from the
Veterinary Science Curriculum

Legs
– “Anatomy and Physiology

Skull
identify the different skeleton
divisions and match the dog
skeleton to the human.
2. What are the names of the
bone parts?
Possible replies:

Legs

Skull
2. Using slides 10-11 and
handout 5; p. 25-26 from the
Veterinary Science Curriculum
– “Anatomy and Physiology
name the parts of a bone.
3. Can you name the different
types of bone fractures?
3. Using slide 12 and handout
5; p. 25-26 from the Veterinary
Science Curriculum – “Anatomy
and Physiology identify types of
fractures.
Additional Information
The skeleton has two divisions:
the axial skeleton and the
appendicular skeleton.
The axial skeleton is composed
of the bones that lie around the
body’s center of gravity; this
includes the bones of the skull,
vertebrae, hyoid apparatus,
ribs,
and
sternum.
The
appendicular
skeleton
is
composed of the bones of the
limbs.
The parts of the bone and their
functions are
yaline cartilage - Cartilage
covers the ends of the bones.
The smooth surfaces stop the
bones rubbing together and
absorb shock.
Epiphysis - This is the name
for the extremity of the bones.
Cancellous bone - This is
sometimes called Spongy Bone
and stores the red bone
marrow where blood cells are
manufactured.
Epiphyseal plate - A line
across the bone from where the
bone grows in length.
Diaphysis - The shaft of the
bone.
Compact bone - The word
"compact" suggests a hard part
of the bone. It surrounds the
yellow bone marrow in the
diaphysis and gives strength to
the hollow part of the bone.
Periosteum - Where there is
no hyaline cartilage, the
periosteum covers the surface
of the bone. Ligaments and
tendons are attached to the
periosteum.
Medullary cavity - This space
inside the diaphysis contains
the yellow bone marrow.
Reference Materials
Animal Care Training – ppt
TOPIC I-2 – The Skeletal
System - Slides 7-8-9-10-1112
Veterinary
Science
Curriculum
Package
–
“Anatomy and Physiology”;
CMS – Ohio State - order
number PID146
Veterinary
Assistant
Handbook, IV-1-1 by Dr.
Floron C. Faries available from
Instructional
Materials
Services; TAMU
“Virtual
Cat
Dissection”
Pennsylvania
State
University
http://bio.bd.psu.edu/cat/
Bones break and some of the
fractures
are
transverse,
oblique, spiral, comminuted,
segmental, avulsed, impacted,
torus, and greenstick.
ACTIVITIES:

Use Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine for an excellent site to study the parts of the skeleton.
http://www.rossvet.edu.kn/osteology/instruct.htm

Visit the “Virtual Cat Dissection” web page, the skeletal system, to practice identification of skeleton parts.
NOTES: