1. Zoological Terminology
**You will need these notes throughout the ENTIRE semester!**

2. Why do we need to learn these words?
Veterinarians/Doctors use these terms to discuss the animal injuries, where to inject shots, or just general explanations of animals.
If you decide to go into the field of veterinarian medicine, you will already have an advantage in your degree or job!
It will help you better learn and understand things that are discussed during this course.

3. Directional/Positional Terms
Anterior: the side of the body that the face is directed
Posterior: the side of the body that the back is directed
Cranial: towards the head or skull end of the body
Caudal: towards the rump or tail end of the body

4. Directional/Positional Terms
Rostral: pertaining to the nose end or towards the nose
Dorsal: pertaining to the back of an animal
Ventral: the belly or the underside of an animal

5. Directional/Positional Terms
Proximal: nearest to the main part of the body relative to another body part; usually refers to limbs
Distal: position furthest from the main part of the body relative to another body part; usually refers to limbs

6. Directional/Positional Terms
Medial: closer to the center of the body
Lateral: farther away from the center of the body

7. Directional/Positional Terms
Oral: pertaining to the mouth
Orbital: pertaining to the eyes or the bone surrounding the eye
Palmar: the bottom part of the fore limbs; the palm/bottom side of the hands or paws
Plantar: the bottom part of the hind limbs; the soles/bottom side of the feet or paws

10. Anatomical Orientation (Planes)
Sagittal plane: An imaginary line or axis that goes through the body separating left and right halves.
Frontal plane: An imaginary line or axis that goes through the body separating dorsal and ventral halves or sections.
Transverse plane: An imaginary line or axis that goes through the body separating anterior and posterior halves or sections.

12. Zoological Terms a-, an-: not or without aero- : air or gas
alb- : something white or pale in color
amni- : the membranous sac surrounding a fetus/embryo
amphi- : pertaining to both sides
anti- : against or opposed to something
arthro-: joints or limbs
avi-: bird or flying

13. Zoological Terms bi- : two, double, twice bio- : life
blast-: germ (the growing of) or bud
carn-: meat or flesh
caud-: tail
cephal-: pertaining to the head/brain
cervi- : pertaining to the top of neck
cheli-: claws or pinchers
chemo-: chemicals

14. Zoological Terms choano-: funnel or collar
chondri-: cartilage or gristle
chrom-: color
cili-: pertaining to small hair-like structures
cnido-: sting
-coel-: cavity or hollow space
crani-: pertaining to the skull
-cyst: sac, pouch, bladder
cyto-, -cyte : cell

15. Zoological Terms dactyl-: digit or fingers/toes
derm- : pertaining to the skin/tissue
di- : two
dia-: (Greek) through/across or (Latin) day
dis-: to take apart or separate
dorso-: pertaining to the back of an animal
echino-: spiny or prickly
ecto-: outer or outside
endo-: inside or within

16. Zoological Terms entom-: insects epi-: on or above eu-: true or proper
exo-: outside of another
gastro-: pertaining to the stomach
gen-: beginning
gnath-: pertaining to the jaw
gono-: seed or reproductive seed (sex cell)
helminth: worm

17. Zoological Terms hemo- : pertaining to the blood herb- : plants
herp- : reptiles
hetero- : different
homo- : same
hydro- : water
ichthy- : fish
infra- : below
inter- : between or among

18. Zoological Terms karyo- : nucleus lacto- : pertaining to milk
mamm- : pertaining to the breast
marg- : border or edge
melan- : dark or black
meso- : middle
mono- : one
morph- : change shape or form
nephro- : pertaining to the kidney

19. Zoological Terms neuro- : pertaining to the nervous system
noct- : night
oligo- : few, little
-ologist : a person who studies
-ology : the study of
ornith- : bird
osteo- : bone
partheno- : virgin
-ped-, -pod: pertaining to the foot

20. Zoological Terms peri- : around
-philic : attraction to or strong liking for
-phobic : fear of or strong dislike of
-phore : to bear or carry
photo- : pertaining to light
platy- : flat
poly- : many or plurality
por- : pore or porous
post- : after

21. Zoological Terms pre- : before pseudo- : false or fake reticulo- : net
spermat- : pertaining to sperm cell
sym- : similar to
terra- : terrestrial, earth, or land
tetra- : four
therm- : heat
thorac- : pertaining to the upper chest

22. Zoological Terms -toxin : poison trans- : to move across tri- : three
tympano- : eardrum
umbil- : pertaining to the navel (bellybutton)
uni- : one
utero- : pertaining to the uterus
ventro- : pertaining to the belly of an animal
zo- : pertaining to animals or animal life