Main Article: Avian Medical Terms / Health & Diseases by Jeannine Miesle, MA, Allied Member, Association of Avian Veterinarians
Terms: Directional Terms… Regions of the body … Prefixes & Suffices … Muscle Movement … Number Values … Abbreviations … Organizations … Commonly Used Medical Terms
Relevant Images: Relevant Avian Anatomy Image Gallery (NOTE: Some of the images / illustrations on this and linked pages may be too graphic for young audiences. We recommend parental supervision and approval.)
- Skeletal System … Feathers & Skin … Cloaca and Bursa of Fabricus … Muscles and Tendons, Feather Piloerection … Avian / Bird Anatomy (Wing / Head / Respiratory / Circulatory / Digestive / Skeletal / Muscular / Reproduction / Scales)
- Bird Head & Beak … Bird Eye / Ear Anatomy / Sensory Perception … Bird Brain & Nervous System
- Respiratory System … Bird Reproductive Organs … Bird Digestive System … Circulatory System – Blood & Heart … Glands … Liver & Kidneys and Surgical Instruments
- Cells, Genetics & DNA … Wound Healing
Directional terms
Aborad: away from mouth of organ
Anterior: toward the front, in front of another body part, towards the head; part closest to the head.
Bilateral: both sides
Caudal: toward back end, tail or rear, opposite of cranial, back of an organ
Cephalic: head area Contralateral: located or acting in conjunction with similar parts on opposite side of body
Cranial/Anterior: toward north wall or head
Deep: away from surface, internal
Distal: far from point of attachment, as a bone; farthest away from center of body or organ; point of origin or attachment, as a limb or bone
Dorsal: toward ceiling or back of body Inferior: lowermost, below or toward Ipsilateral/contralateral: situated on the same side/opposite side of the body
Lateral: away from midline of body or body part
Medial: toward midline of body or body part
Orad: toward the mouth
Posterior/posteriad: toward the rear of body or body part
Proximal: nearest the midline or beginning of a structure; closest to the center of the body or organ, or toward the point of origin or attachment, as a limb or bone; nearer to the point of reference
Rostral, toward the front of the head or organ
Rostral-caudal; x-ray taken from below the beak
Superficial: near the surface
Superior/external: near the surface
Ventral: toward floor or belly
Ventral-dorsal: bird on back / Dorsal-ventral: bird on breast
Regions of the body
Carpal: the wrist area
Crown: area behind the forehead to the occipital region
Crural: the leg area, as in crural feathering
Dorsum: the back or entire dorsal surface of the body
Flank/Side: lateral area posterior to side of body; extends back to the base of the tail
Forehead/frontal region: area above the cere to the crown
Inguinal: lowest lateral regions of the abdomen
Jugal area: cheek area
Jugulum: ventral, midline region of throat
Nape/upper hindneck/nuchal region: dorsal surface of the neck, from the base of the skull to the thoracic vertebrae.
Occipital: the area where the spinal column meets the base of the skull at the nape
Occiput: hindhead; back portion of bird’s crown; elongated feathers
Orbital: the eye sockets
Pilium: entire top of the head, the forehead, crown and occipital regions
Pectoral: the ventral chest and breast regions between the sternum and the shoulder
Prolateral: side area by neck; projecting from or on the side facing forward
Proventer region: above vent
Sacral: the region between the crests of the pelvis; the fused bones of the synsacrum
Rump/uropygial area/lower back: the region that overlies the pelvic bones, between the flanks and above the tail
Combining Forms for Organs
Skeletal system:
- Bones: osteo, osse, ossi
- Joints: arthro
- Cartilage: chondro
- Bone Marrow: myelo
Muscular System
- Muscles: myo
- Fascia: fasci, fascio
- Tendons: teno, tendo, tenino
Cardiovascular system
- Heart: cardio
- Arteries: arterio
- Vein: veno, phlebo
- Blood: hemo, hemato
Lymphatic & Immune Systems
- Lymph Vessels, fluid, nodes: lympho
- Tonsils: tonsillo
- Spleen: spleno
- Thymus: thymo
Respiratory System
- Nose/nares: naso, rhino
- Pharynx: pharyngo
- Trachea: tracho
- Larynx: laryngo
- Lungs: pneumo,pneumono
Digestive System:
- Mandible: gnatho
- Mouth: oro, stomato
- Esophagus: esophago
- Stomach: gastro
- Small intestine: entero
- Large intestine: colo, colono
- Liver: heap, hepato
- Pancreas: pancreato
Urinary system
- Kidneys: hema, reno, nephro
- Ureters: ureto
- Urinary bladder: cysto
- Urethra: urethra
- Urine: urino, uro
Nervous System/Senses
- Nerves: neuro, neuri
- Brain: encephalo
- Spinal cord: myelo
- Eyes: opthalmo, oculo, opto, opti
- Sight: optico
- Ears: otic, oto, auri, auro, audito, audi
- External Ear/sound: acousto, acouso
Integumentary System
- Skin: dermato, dermo, cutaneo
Endocrine system
- Adeno: gland
- Adrenals: adreno
- Gonads: gonado
- Pineal: pineal
- Pituitary: pituito
- Thyroid: thyroid, thyro
Reproductive system:
- Testes: orcho, orchio, orchid, testiculo
- Ovaries: ovary, oophor
- Uterus: hysteron, metro, metri, metrio, utero
Muscle movement
Adduction: toward the midline
Abduction: away from midline
Extension: straightening a joint, increase angle between two bones
Flexion: closure of joint angle or reduction of the angle between two bones
Hyperflexion/hyperextension: flexed or extended too far
Supination: rotating limb/body part so that the palmar surface is turned upward: e.g., upward cupped hand
Pronation: rotating limb or body part so that palmar surface is turned downward
Number Values
1: uni, mono
2: duo, bi, dyo
3: tri
4: quadic, quadro, tetr, tetra
5: quinqu, quint, pent, penta
6: sex, hex, hexa
7: sept, septi, hept, hepta
8: octo, oct, octa
9: novem, nonus, ennea
10: deca, decem, dek, deka
Abbreviations:
ac: before meals (ante cibum)
ad lib: as much as desired (ad libitum)
ANS: autonomic nervous system
bid: twice daily (bis in die)
cal: calorie
cap: capsule
cc: cubic centimeter (same as mL)
cm: centimeter
CNS: central nervous system
ED: effective dose
g: gram
gal: gallon
GI: gastrointestinal
hr: hour
ID: intradermal
IM: intramuscular
IU: International unit
IU/L: international units per liter
IV: intravenous
kg: kilogram
LOC: level of consciousness
mg: milligram
m: meter
MED: minimal effective dose
mg: milligram
mm: millimeter
NPO: nothing by mouth (non per os)
NSAID: nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug
OTC: over the counter
oz: ounce
pc: after meals (post cibumP)
PD: polydipsia
pH: acidity and alkalinity measurement
PM: postmortem
PNS: peripheral nervous system
PO/po: orally (per os)
P r n: as needed
PU: polyuria
q: every
qd: every day
qh: every hour
q4h: every 4 hours
qid: four times daily (quarter in die)
qn: every night
qod/eod: every other day
qp: as much as desired
qt: quart
RBC: red blood cell
sid: once daily (q24h is more common for once daily
sig: let it be written as (used when writing prescriptions)
soln: solution
SQ/SC: subcutaneous
T: tablespoon/ tablet/ temperature
tid: three times daily (ter in die)
tsp: teaspoon
vol: volume
WBC: white blood cell
Organizations:
AAV: Association of Avian Veterinarians
ABA: American Birding Assn.
ABC: American Bird Conservancy
AOU: Amer. Ornithologists’ Union
NAS: Nat’l Audubon Society
WWF: World Wildlife Fund.html
