Absorption |
Acid/base balancemaintenance of the normal pH within the body systems |
Acromegalyexcess growth of bones after the epiphyses have closed, caused by excess secretion of growth hormone |
Actina contractile protein found in muscle fibres |
Active transportthe movement of molecules or ions through transport proteins across a cell membrane, against their concentration gradient. The process requires energy from ATP |
Acutea disease that has a rapid onset, short duration and pronounced clinical signs |
Ad libitum feedingfeeding performed with freedom. Sometimes called free-choice or Ad lib |
Addison's diseasedisease caused by insufficient adrenocortical hormones; hypoadrenocorticism |
Additivea substance purposely put into food to give a desirable characteristic (e.g. color, flavor, texture, resistance to spoilage etc) |
Adipose tissuefat tissue in the body |
Aerobicrequiring oxygen for life and growth |
Aerobic respiration |
Afferent nerve fibrescarry nerve impulses towards the central nervous system |
Agonal gaspa terminal breathing pattern where the animal appears to be gasping for breath |
Agonistsomething which increases a response |
Albuminthe most abundant plasma protein. Principally responsible for maintenance of circulating blood volume by preventing too much water leaving the capillaries by osmosis. |
Allele |
Allelesthese are alternative forms of a gene, showing different options for the same gene e.g. red, black, white coat coloring. Each has a specific place or ‘locus’ on the chromosome. |
AlopeciaA partial or complete loss of hair in areas where it is normally present |
AMTRAAnimal Medicines Training Regulatory Authority |
Anabolic reactiona reaction in which chemical substances are built up and energy is used |
Anaemiaa deficiency in the number of circulating red blood cells or haemoglobin concentration in the blood |
Anaerobicnot requiring oxygen |
Anaerobic respiration |
Anastomosisan artificial or naturally occurring connection between two structures, which are normally separate, for example between blood vessels or loops of intestine |
Androgensa group of male sex hormones e.g., testosterone |
Aniona negatively charged particle |
AnisocoriaPupils that are not symmetrical in size. i.e. one pupil may be constricted and the other dilated. |
Anodea positively charged electrode to which electrons are attracted |
Anorexialoss of appetite for food |
Antagonistsomething which prevents or decreases a response |
Anthroponosisa disease which can be spread from humans to animals |
Antibody |
Antidotesspecific reversing agent for a poison |
Antigena substance that is foreign to the body and stimulates an immune response |
Antiperistalsismovement of food material up the digestive tract. This is in the opposite direction to peristalsis. |
Antisepsisthe prevention of sepsis (presence of pathogenic organisms or their toxins in the blood or body tissues) |
Antiseptica chemical use to control, prevent or destroy pathogens present on living tissues/skin |
Anurialack of urine output |
Anxiolysisdecreased level of anxiety |
Apnoeaabsence of breathing |
Arrhythmiaan abnormal heart rhythm |
Artefactany mark on a radiograph which decreases the quality |
Arteryblood vessel carrying blood away from the heart |
As fed basisthe concentration of a nutrient in the food as it is fed to the animal, which includes the water content of the food |
Ascitesexcess fluid in the abdominal cavity |
Asepsisfreedom from infectious material |
Asepticthe complete absence of bacteria, viruses or fungi that could cause disease. Asepsis is the ideal situation for the performance of surgical or other invasive procedures, and is achieved by sterilisation techniques |
Asexual reproductionreproduction which involves only one parent and produces offspring which are identical to the parent |
Ashthe residue left after combustion of the food - generally the mineral content |
Asystoleno electrical activity in the heart – a ‘flat line’ on the ECG |
Atomsmallest particle capable of existing on its own or as molecules when in combination with other atoms |
ATPadenosine triphosphate, a high energy phosphate molecule used to store and release energy for work within the body |
Auscultationa technique used for listening to the sounds of the body with the use of a stethoscope, for example the heart beat and respiratory sounds within the thoracic cavity |
Autonomic nervous systempart of the peripheral nervous system that supplies stimulation to the cardiac and smooth muscles and the glands of the body, involved in unconscious control |
Autosomesall the chromosomes within the nucleus of the cell except the sex chromosomes |
Autotransformerprevents fluctuations in the mains voltage and ensures constant 240 volts supplied to the X-ray machine |
AVM GSLAuthorised Veterinary Medicine - General Sales List |
Azotaemiaincreased levels of nitrogenous by-products in the bloodstream |