CVA Veterinary Medical Terminology and Anatomy 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does the medical term 'dyspnea' mean?
- Difficulty urinating
- Difficulty breathing (Correct answer)
- Difficulty swallowing
- Difficulty walking
Correct answer: Difficulty breathing
Dyspnea combines 'dys-' (difficult) with '-pnea' (breathing), meaning difficult or labored breathing.
'Dys-' means difficult or abnormal. '-Pnea' relates to breathing (apnea = no breathing, tachypnea = rapid breathing). Clinical signs include extended neck, open-mouth breathing, and exaggerated chest movements.
Question 2: Which anatomical term describes a structure closer to the midline of the body?
- Lateral
- Medial (Correct answer)
- Proximal
- Distal
Correct answer: Medial
Medial refers to a position closer to the median plane (midline). Lateral means farther from the midline.
The heart is medial to the lungs; the ribs are lateral to the heart. Proximal means closer to the trunk, distal means farther. These terms are essential for accurate medical communication.
Question 3: What is the function of the spleen?
- Producing bile for fat digestion
- Filtering blood, storing red blood cells, and supporting immune function (Correct answer)
- Regulating blood calcium levels
- Producing insulin and glucagon
Correct answer: Filtering blood, storing red blood cells, and supporting immune function
The spleen filters blood by removing old RBCs, stores blood cells and platelets, and produces lymphocytes and antibodies for immune function.
The spleen is the largest lymphoid organ. It removes damaged RBCs via macrophages, stores cells that can be released during stress, and contains lymphoid tissue for immune response. It can also perform extramedullary hematopoiesis.
Question 4: What does the suffix '-ectomy' mean?
- Surgical creation of an opening
- Surgical removal or excision (Correct answer)
- Surgical repair
- Inflammation of
Correct answer: Surgical removal or excision
'-ectomy' means surgical removal. For example, splenectomy is removal of the spleen, ovariohysterectomy is removal of ovaries and uterus.
Related suffixes: '-otomy' = incision into, '-ostomy' = creation of an opening, '-orrhaphy' = repair/suturing, '-plasty' = reconstruction. Understanding these suffixes allows quick interpretation of procedure names.
Question 5: Which cranial nerve is responsible for the pupillary light reflex?
- Cranial nerve V (trigeminal)
- CN II (optic) for afferent pathway and CN III (oculomotor) for efferent pathway (Correct answer)
- Cranial nerve VII (facial)
- Cranial nerve VIII (vestibulocochlear)
Correct answer: CN II (optic) for afferent pathway and CN III (oculomotor) for efferent pathway
CN II detects the light stimulus and CN III constricts the pupil via parasympathetic fibers to the iris sphincter muscle.
The afferent limb uses CN II to transmit the signal to the pretectal nucleus. The efferent limb uses CN III parasympathetic fibers. Testing includes direct PLR and consensual PLR because the signal crosses at the pretectal nucleus.
Question 6: What is the tough fibrous membrane that covers bone surfaces called?
- Peritoneum
- Periosteum (Correct answer)
- Perichondrium
- Pericardium
Correct answer: Periosteum
The periosteum covers external bone surfaces, providing attachment for muscles and tendons and containing blood vessels that nourish bone.
The outer fibrous layer provides structural support and tendon attachment. The inner cambium layer contains osteoblasts essential for bone growth and repair. Related terms: peritoneum covers the abdomen, pericardium covers the heart.
CVA Veterinary Medical Terminology and Anatomy 2
What does the medical term 'dyspnea' mean?