General Veterinary Anatomy Overview

General Veterinary Anatomy

• Anatomy is the science of form and structures of all organisms.
• Literally, the word means "to cut apart."

Aims of the Course

• Students gain knowledge of common veterinary anatomical terms and embryology.
• Students learn about the locomotor system of domestic animals.
• Students develop background on the origin and development of mammalian organisms, and the basic knowledge of general embryology.
• Students learn about congenital anomalies and morphological defects present at birth, as well as comparative anatomy of limb bones.

Classification of Anatomy

• There are 30 subdivisions of anatomy.
• Gross or macroscopic anatomy is based on dissecting animal cadavers. Structures visible to the naked eye are observed.
• General anatomy describes principles governing body structure.
• Special anatomy describes the structural features of specific species or organs.
• Comparative anatomy studies structures across animal species, focusing on characteristics aiding classification.

Classification of Anatomy (continued)

• Applied anatomy uses anatomical facts about living animals to improve clinical investigations, diagnoses, and surgical approaches.
• Instrumental anatomy uses specialized instruments like X-rays, CT scans, ultrasounds, and MRIs for diagnostic purposes.
• Embryology examines developmental anatomy from conception to birth.
• Morphology studies the form, position, and development of body structures (combining anatomy, histology, and developmental anatomy).

Methods for Approaching (Performing) Anatomy

• Systematic anatomy studies organs functioning in the same system.
• Topographical/regional anatomy investigates a specific body area, examining all structures within and their relationships. Regions include head, neck, trunk, forelimbs, and hindlimbs.
• Applied anatomy applies anatomical knowledge to living animals.

Nomenclatures of Body Systems

• Skeletal system: Osteology (bones).
• Articulation system: Arthrology (joints).
• Muscular system: Myology (muscles).
• Digestive system: Splanchnology (mouth, stomach, intestines).
• Respiratory system: Splanchnology (lungs, airways).
• Urinary system: Splanchnology (kidneys, urinary bladder).
• Reproductive system: Splanchnology (ovaries, testes, ducts).
• Endocrine system: Endocrinology (ductless glands).
• Nervous system: Neurology (brain, spinal cord, nerves).
• Circulatory system: Cardiology (heart, vessels).
• Sensory system: Esthesiology (eyes, ears).
• Common Integument: Dermatology (skin and associated structures).

Anatomical Terminology

• Terms are used to precisely describe position and direction of body parts. Anatomical terms apply to a four-legged animal in its typical standing position.

Body Planes

• Median/midsagittal/longitudinal plane divides the body into equal right and left halves.
• Sagittal/paramedian plane runs parallel to the median plane, in the head, body, or limbs.
• Transverse/segmental plane is perpendicular to the median plane, dividing into cranial and caudal segments.
• Frontal/horizontal/coronal plane is perpendicular to both the median and transverse planes, dividing into dorsal and ventral segments.

Anatomical Terms and Directions

• Rostral (toward the nose) is used in the head instead of cranial (toward the head).
• Cranial: toward the head.
• Caudal: toward the tail.
• Dorsal: toward the back.
• Ventral: toward the belly.
• Proximal: closer to the trunk.
• Distal: further from the trunk
• Axial: related to the longitudinal axis.
• Abaxial: away from the longitudinal axis.
• Superficial: close to the surface.
• Deep/internal: closer to the center.
• Medial: closer to the midline.
• Lateral: away from the midline.

Descriptive Terms of the Skeletal System

• Surfaces include eminences (projections), depressions (cavities), and foramina.
• Cavities/projections may be articular (for joints) or non-articular.
• Non-articular projections provide attachments for muscles, tendons, fascia, and ligaments.

Non-articular Projections

• Process: a general term for a prominence (e.g., spinous process of the scapula).
• Tuberosity: a large rounded projection (e.g., metacarpal tuberosity).
• Tubercle: similar to a tuberosity, but smaller.
• Trochanter: a prominent projection (e.g., trochanters of the femur).
• Spine/spinous process: a pointed projection (e.g., dorsal and ventral spines of vertebrae).
• Crest: a prominent ridge.
• Line: a small ridge (e.g., muscular lines of the subscapular fossa).
• Epicondyle: a projection near a condyle (e.g., epicondyle of the femur).
• Hamulus: a hook-like projection.
• Malleolus: a round projection (e.g., medial and lateral malleoli of the tibia).

Articular Projections

• Head: a rounded enlargement at the proximal end of a bone (e.g., head of humerus, femur).
• Condyle: a somewhat cylindrical articular eminence (e.g., condyles of the femur).
• Trochlea: a pulley-like articular surface (e.g., trochlea of the femur).
• Facet: a small, flat articular surface (e.g., costal facet of vertebrae).

Non-articular Depressions

• Fossa: a large, non-articular depression (e.g., supraspinous fossa of the scapula).
• Fovea: a small, non-articular depression (e.g., fovea capitis of the femur head).
• Groove/sulcus: a long, usually deep depression (e.g., musculospiral groove of the humerus).
• Foramen: a hole or opening (e.g., nutrient foramen).
• Fissure: a linear defect in a bone (or between two bones).
• Canal: a tunnel through one or more bones (e.g., vertebral canal).
• Meatus: a short canal (e.g., external acoustic meatus of the ear).
• Alveolus: a tooth socket.

Articular Depressions

Glenoid cavity: a shallow articular cavity (e.g., glenoid cavity of the scapula).

• Acetabulum/cotyloid cavity: a deep articular cavity (e.g., acetabulum of the pelvic bone).
• Notch: An articular depression (e.g., semilunar notch of the ulna).

Bones/Joints of Right Forelimb (Horse - Lateral View)

• Scapula (shoulder girdle)
• Humerus (arm region)
• Ulna and Radius (forearm)
• Carpus
• Metacarpus
• Phalanx (bones in the foot)