Calculusstone like deposits of mineral salts found in hollow organs or on the teeth. In the urethra they can result in blockage of the passage of urine. |
Callingpersistent yowling exhibited by the female cat (queen) during the pro-oestrus period of the oestrous cycle |
Canaliculus |
Capillary refill timetime taken for blood capillaries to refill after flow in them has been disrupted in some way |
Carcinogenicany agent or substance that can cause tumour formation and cancer |
Cardiacpertaining to the heart |
Carnivoremeat-eating animal |
Carrieran individual who has a copy of a recessive gene that is not expressed because of heterozygosity, but the gene can be passed on to the next generation, alternatively, an individual, infected with a pathogen, but not showing any symptoms of disease. |
Carriersconvalescent carrier: animal which has had a disease and recovered |
Carriondecaying flesh |
Cassettea light-proof container which holds X-ray film and intensifying screens in close contact |
Catabolic reactiona reaction in which chemical substances are broken down and energy is released |
Cathodenegatively charged electrode which produces electrons |
Cationa positively charged particle |
Caudal fermenterherbivorous animal whose main microbial fermentation takes place in the large intestine |
Cella structure bound by a plasma membrane, containing cytoplasm and organelles; the basic structural and functional unit of all living organisms. |
Central Nervous Systemthe part of the nervous system that consists of the brain and the spinal cord |
Centriolean organelle composed of microtubules, that is involved in the formation of the spindle during mitosis |
Centromerethe part of the chromosome to which spindle fibres attach during cell division |
Cerebrospinal fluidclear fluid produced in the choroid plexus of the ventricles of the brain. It is found in the brain and spinal cord. |
Chlamydiabacterial agent that causes Chlamydia infection in cats |
Chloroplastsorganelles, found in plant cells, which contain chlorophyll (green pigment). They are the sites of photosynthesis. |
Chondrocytecell found in cartilage |
Chromatidtwo identical chromosomes, joined together by a centromere, formed during the interphase of the cell cycle |
Chromatin |
Chromosome |
ChronotropeA drug that increases the rate of cardiac contraction |
Chylefatty liquid absorbed from the small intestine by lymphatic capillaries known as lacteals |
Chylothoraxlymphatic fluid in the pleural cavity |
Chymepartially digested food with an acid pH expelled from the stomach |
Ciliashort hair-like structures found on the surfaces of some cells and organisms; used for either propelling trapped material out of the body or for locomotion |
Cisternal punctureobtaining a sample of cerebrospinal fluid from the cisterna magnum |
Clotting timetime taken for blood to clot naturally |
Codominance |
Coitusthe act of mating |
Collimationthe process of altering the size of the primary beam using a light beam diaphragm (LBD) |
Colloida fluid where solid molecules are suspended in a liquid (but invisible to the naked eye). In fluid therapy, colloid fluids contain large molecules that remain in the circulation and therefore are plasma volume expanders. |
Colonisationthe formation of compact population groups of the same type of microorganism |
Commensalliving on or within another organism, and deriving benefit without harming or benefiting the host individual; an organism that causes neither harm nor benefit to the host |
Compound folliclehair follicle which consists of a primary hair follicle and several secondary hair follicles |
Concentration gradientthe change in the concentration of a substance from one area to another |
Conceptus |
Conditionally essential nutrienta nutrient that is normally not essential but becomes so, due to certain physiological or pathological conditions resulting in relative deficiency |
Conditioned reflexa reflex action which has been modified in response to experience or learning. For example, a dog may salivate when it sees its owner remove a tin opener from a drawer. |
Conjugationbacterial mating |
Connective tissuetissue that binds structures together, made up of cells and an intercellular matrix and its functions include support, protection and repair |
Constipationinfrequent or difficulty passing of faeces |
Contagionthe transmission of disease from one individual to another |
Contagiouscapable of being transmitted between animals by direct or indirect contact |
Contaminationthe soiling or making inferior by contact or mixture |
Contrastthe difference in radiographic density between adjacent areas on a radiograph |
Contrast mediasubstances which are introduced into the patient to increase or decrease radiopacity and contrast during an X-ray |
Contrast studya radiographic procedure which improves the contrast of the area under examination |
Controlled druga drug whose use and possession is controlled by legislation |
Coprophagiaeating faeces |
Coupagepercussion of the chest using cupped hands to aid removal of secretions |
Cranial fermenterherbivorous animal whose main microbial fermentation takes place in a modified stomach |
Craniumthe skull containing the brain |
Crossed gridtwo parallel grids at right angles to each other |
Crystalloida fluid containing small molecules which move quickly from the circulation |
Cumulativeto build up |
Cushing's diseasedisease caused by excess adrenocortical hormones; hyperadrenocorticism |
Cystitisinflammation of the bladder |
Cytokinesis |
Cytoplasm |