Avian Medical Terms (Avian Health & Diseases) by Jeannine Miesle

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

Glossary of Avian Medical Terms – Prefixes and Suffixes

 

Main Article: Avian Medical Terms by Jeannine Miesle, MA, Allied Member, Association of Avian Veterinarians

Prefixes:

A, an, ana: without, no

Ab: away from

Ad: toward

Aer/Aero: oxygen/air

Adipo: fat

Anem: blood condition

Anti: against

Auto: self, within

Blephar: eyellids

Chezein: feces

Copr: feces

Chrome/chromo: color

Cyan: blue discoloration

Cyto: cell

Dys: bad, painful, difficult

Ecto: outside

Endo: inside, within

Epi: above

Eu: good, easy, normal

Ex,exo: without, out of, outside, away from

Extra: outside

Hetero: other, dissimilar

Histo: tissue

Homo-Same

Hyper: more than normal

Hypo: less than normal

Illi: hip

Infra: below, beneath

Inter: between

Intra: within

Isch: to hold back

Karyo-nucleus

Leu/leuko: white

Leio/lio: smooth

Lipid/lipo: fat

Meso: middle

Meta: beyond

Myco: fungus

Myelo: bone marrow, where body makes cells

Myxo: mucous, slime

Neo: new

Oligo: scant, little

Onco: tumor, mass

Onycho: nails

Pan: all

Para: alongside, associated with, closely resembling true form, beyond, outside of, faulty, irregular, abnormal, accessory to, against, apart from

Per: throughout

Peri: around, before, during, after

Phagia: eat, swallow

Poly: many, excessive

Pre: before

Post: after

Proprio: owns own

Sub: beneath, below, nearly, almost, under, less

Super, supra: above, beyond, excessive

Thelo: nipple, thin membrane

Thymo: thymus, mind, soul, emotions

Tono:tone, tension

Trans: across

Ultra: above, increased, more than normal

Vaso: vessel or duct, circulatory

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“Pertaining To” suffixes, “as in”

-ac: cardiac, heart

-al: renal, kidney

-an: ovarian, ovary

-ar: lumbar, lower back 

-are: alimentary, GI track

-eal: laryngeal, larynx

-ic: enteric, intestines

-ous: skin

-tic: nephrotic, kidneys

-prandial: a meal

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Suffixes:

-algia: pain

-ase: enzyme ending

-blast: immature stage in cellular development before appearance of definitive characteristics of the cell;

-centesis: surgical puncture to remove fluid or gas

-cyte: cell -dynia: pain

-ectasis: distending, stretching

-ectomy: surgical procedure to remove organ

-emia: blood condition

-gram: record of

-graph: recording instrument

-graphy: written, studied about, recording procedure

-iasis: parasite infestation; name preceeds suffix, e.g., trichomoniasis

-itis: inflammation

-lith: body or mass

-lithiasis: presence of stones

-lysis: break down, loosen, decomposition

-logy: study of

-malacia: abnormal softening

-megaly: enlargement

-mycin: substance derived from bacteria

-oma: tumor, neoplasm, or specific tissue which precedes suffix, e.g., lipomas, fatty tumor

-ometry: measurement

-osis:/otic: increased number, abnormal actions, conditions or states, disorders

-osis: disease caused by organism whose name precedes it, e.g., salmonellosis

-pathy: disease or condition of

-penia: deficiency, reduced number

-pexy: suture to stabilize, e.g., gastropexy: suture to abdominal wall

-philia: attraction for, increased numbers

-plasia: formation, development, growth of tissue and cell numbers; change is size or tissue and cells; describes problems with tissue formation

-plasty: surgical repairs, e.g., rhinoplasty, repair of nose

-poietic/poiesis: formation

-ptosis: drooping, dropping down, e.g., prolapsis

-rrhage/rrhagia: bursting forth

-rrhaphy: to suture

-rrhea: flow, discharge

-rrhexis: rupture

-sclerosis: abnormal hardening

-scope: procedure to visually examine

-stomy: incision, cut into

-thymia: condition of the mind

-trophy: formation, development, increase in size of tissue

-tropic: having an affinity for or attraction to

-um: structure

-uro,-uria: of urinary tract, urine’

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NEED A VET?
USA: Find Your Local Avian Veterinarian

by Jeannine Miesle, MA Allied Member, Association of Avian Veterinarians

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Index of Bird Diseases … Symptoms and Potential Causes … Bird Species and Diseases They are Most Susceptible to

Avian (Bird) Anatomy – Images of Bird Skeletal System by Jeannine

 

Main Article: Avian Medical Terms / Health & Diseases by Jeannine Miesle, MA, Allied Member, Association of Avian Veterinarians …

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 (scroll down) … Feathers & Skin  …  Cloaca and Bursa of Fabricus … Muscles and Tendons, Feather Piloerection
• 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 /  Surgical Instruments
• Cells, Genetics & DNA … Wound Healing

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SKELETAL SYSTEM

Long bone anatomy https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-ap/chapter/introduction-to-bone/

Long bone anatomy

Metaphysis https://fairviewmnhs.org/Patient-Education/Articles/English/p/e/d/i/a/Pediatric_Skeletal_Growth_89080

and

https://drawittoknowit.com/course/gross-anatomy/glossary/gross-anatomic-microscopic-structure/bone-anatomy

Network of trabiculae Internal Anatomy of a long bone with trabiculae, medullary bone https://humanbiology.pressbooks.tru.ca/chapter/13-4-structure-of-bone/

Skeleton of a bird https://veteriankey.com/basic-avian-anatomy-and-physiology/

 

Bones of the Wing and Shoulder https://www.pinterest.com/pin/503277327093711879/ and https://www.pinterest.com/pin/155303887213987672

 

Furcula, Top arrow; Keel bone, bottom arrow https://slideplayer.com/slide/9208738/

Coracoid Bone http://vireo.ansp.org/bird_academy/bird_glossary.html

Synsacrum http://people.eku.edu/ritchisong/skeleton.html

Thoracic vertebrae or notarium  https://birdsofseabrook.app.clemson.edu/topics/skeleton.html

Parrot / Bird Leg and Foot anatomy By Darekk2 – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=30700010

Bird Wing: Alula, phalanges, metacarpals https://www.researchgate.net/ 

 

ALULA BONES featheredphotography.com/blog/2013/03/23/the-alula-bastard-wing-of-a-kestrel-in-flight/

Cross-section of a hollow (pneumatic) bird bone showing trabiculae http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=bird+bones&view=detailv2&&&id=91B06AEE2221B40D551E5A4041A 227A014E3973F&selectedIndex=15&ccid=E4G0jcob&simid=607992470008564468&thid=JN.617wTVIMlXkNb wGSNBbw0Q&ajaxhist=0

Humerus and femur—long bones which are filled with air http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=bird+wing+bones+Lafebervet.com&view=detailv2&&&id=715D34A6FE 156158ADE844225CF340031C18DBB9&selectedIndex=596&ccid=9Hr8ndae&simid=608035411092899959&t hid=JN.ys86xutpyZTflZGguXXrWg&ajaxhist=0

Keel bone http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=bird+keel+bone&view=detailv2&&&id=BD09F2AD14BA4565A5D117D2F577D202 31C051D6&selectedIndex=137&ccid=bFqQUfvD&simid=608018458822184003&thid=HN.608018458822184003

Bone Condyles on human knee http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=condyle&view=detailv2&&&id=70682F4759035E7A7E0537B11673231 F801A44EF&selectedIndex=59&ccid=XjCqX3Tn&simid=608040861387195128&thid=JN.HB9j0VqWpn+Apr/fd cVtkg

Fracture types http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=bird+glottis&view=detailv2&&&id=19F36453DEA8572015FDD0ED95C 7EAEC41AE09CD&selectedIndex=0&ccid=ogpWS2Ug&simid=608004298336109970&thid=JN.DAtJUsry08c% 2fjgBQEtA7%2fw&ajaxhist=0

Exostosis http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=exostosis&view=detailv2&&&id=48DF5CE376D8189A333F53F3AA297A950FA16 19C&selectedIndex=2&ccid=Wt0Ku6py&simid=607997812942834644&thid=JN.qKywVta8Hcw9rdqU4on3Rg&ajaxhist=0

Involucrum in bone http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=involucrum&view=detailv2&&qpvt=involucrum&id=4741E54CC1CFE06 448E9E33A49BC6A6C6FF91F53&selectedIndex=1&ccid=Mbh3WhMe&simid=607988591657748536&thid=JN .fiakvC375hG34%2fU1M7kINw&ajaxhist=0

Zygodactyl foot numbering and Hallux toe http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=zygodactyl+bird+feet&view=detailv2&&&id=8B485B4B625C74DC5D17990450BC 3C6062611170&selectedIndex=0&ccid=KKOk2N3z&simid=608021873345956061&thid=JN.xQoKMos3%2fS3D043UUz% 2blkw&ajaxhist=0 1 is the Hallux toe

 

Avian (Bird) Anatomy – Images of Cloaca and Bursa of Fabricus

 

Main Article: Avian Medical Terms / Health & Diseases by Jeannine Miesle, MA, Allied Member, Association of Avian Veterinarians …

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 (scroll down)… Muscles and Tendons, Feather Piloerection
• 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 /  Surgical Instruments
• Cells, Genetics & DNA … Wound Healing

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CLOACA AND BURSA OF FABRICUS

Compartments of the cloaca From Manual of Ornithology, Porter and Lynch

Bursa of Fabricus http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=bursa+of+fabricius&view=detailv2&&qpvt=bursa+of+fabricius&id=8CA6 A086DF1DD9D20845068B4977CF86D213FF2C&selectedIndex=4&ccid=UUSbFbP0&simid=60799124163664 4044&thid=JN.BU2QCMn5ANSNr5DdhgoT1g&ajaxhist=0

Cloacal prolapse http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=cloaca+in+birds&view=detailv2&&&id=06A71A5940A86522809F57674 CB6316EEC97532E&selectedIndex=0&ccid=t/Fh3NfN&simid=608019408007463541&thid=HN.60801940800

Cloacal papilloma http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=bird+glottis&view=detailv2&&&id=19F36453DEA8572015FDD0ED95C 7EAEC41AE09CD&selectedIndex=0&ccid=ogpWS2Ug&simid=608004298336109970&thid=JN.DAtJUsry08c% 2fjgBQEtA7%2fw&ajaxhist=0

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Avian (Bird) Anatomy – Images of Cells, Genetics and DNA by Jeannine

 

Main Article: Avian Medical Terms / Health & Diseases by Jeannine Miesle, MA, Allied Member, Association of Avian Veterinarians …

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
• 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 (scroll down) … Wound Healing

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Cells, Genetics & DNA

Apoptosis http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=apoptosis&view=detailv2&&qpvt=apoptosis&id=87DD6D34BBDD0E10 4CDD77C8998C91A5B5229CF2&selectedIndex=12&ccid=01p%2flKkF&simid=608035728922906593&thid=J N.YtSu9Vh%2fPnM8GFT31ZI7pg&ajaxhist=0

Difference between apoptosis and necrosis http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=apoptosis&view=detailv2&&&id=A9A1C49CA87AA1F93B434602D093 5421FB0C53EE&selectedIndex=111&ccid=7UoD0jTW&simid=608035578594593976&thid=JN.P9LqD39CSqg ZSCvV3cIxgA&ajaxhist=0 85

Cell structure and mitochondria http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=mitochondria+diagram&view=detailv2&&&id=D8C8767F423E6634DA1BFCEB311 8C96A6F38DCAE&selectedIndex=54&ccid=GMf4v0Ov&simid=608004757919108313&thid=JN.sBGxVCEMe3oOmSEy16 Kp7A&ajaxhist=0

Mast Cells and allergy http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mast_cell#/media/File:Mast_cells.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mast_cell

 

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Avian (Bird) Anatomy – Images of Bird Glands by Jeannine Miesle

 

Main Article: Avian Medical Terms / Health & Diseases by Jeannine Miesle, MA, Allied Member, Association of Avian Veterinarians …

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
• 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 (scroll down)… Liver & Kidneys and Surgical Instruments
• Cells, Genetics & DNA … Wound Healing

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GLANDS

Uropygial gland

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=uropygial+gland&view=detailv2&&&id=AF0995C88492FF77F9B47965 0D9D5BEA2A77DCC3&selectedIndex=31&ccid=syWYFrYT&simid=608037897862316118&thid=JN.9%2fMG4 %2fxSTJ8qdMi0F96CSg&ajaxhist=0

Cockatiel uropygial gland. (Miesle)

Salt glands in a water bird http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=lymph+nodes+in+birds&view=detailv2&&&id=C82CB6EF3224022ACAB74597FC DC70D21106BAC1&selectedIndex=10&ccid=mR9Xfcfr&simid=608052092744174147&thid=JN.gMK%2fx8gj15QF0GyH5 6083w&ajaxhist=0 92

Salt glands and ducts http://bio1151b.nicerweb.com/Locked/media/ch44/44_07BirdSaltExcretGlands.jpg