Virtual Mouse Necropsy
The Necropsy Dictionary: First Edition
By D.E. Devor and E.M. Parsoneault
A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z
A
abdomen; abdominal - cavity below the diaphragm containing abdominal tissues including the stomach, intestine, kidneys, spleen etc.
abscess - collection of dead inflammatory cells and live neutrophils, often with bacteria present
adhesion - sticking together of two or more tissues due to inflammation or trauma
anemia; anemic - animal appears pale; quality or quantity of blood is poor which occurs due to hemorrhage or to such conditions as large masses, leukemias, lymphomas, etc.
anopthalmia - no eyes or very small eyes that are difficult to see
anorexia; anorexic - lack of appetite or avoidance of food
anterior - refers to a structure being more in front than another structure in the body
ataxia; ataxic - miscellaneous incoordination
atelectic (in lungs) - airless condition such as a collapsed lung lobe, may also be noted as consolidation
atrophy; atrophic - marked decrease in size
autolysis; autolytic; autolyzed - rotting of cells after death of the animal
azygous - unpaired
B
biliary - pertaining to bile
bulbous - having a bulb shape
C
cachexia - malnutrition associated with carcinoma or other chronic condition
cachectic - the lack of appetite seen in cancer
calcareous, calciferous, calcification - all terms imply the appearance of calcium deposition (i.e. chalky, white, hard, and brittle)
calcinosis - condition of forming calcium deposit
calculus; calculi - stone in the kidney pelvis, gall bladder, urethra, bladder
caseous - purulent material in a more solid form
caudal (inferior) -refers to a structure being closer to the feet or the tail end of the body than another relative structure in the body
cirrhosis; cirrhotic - used to describe a fibrous condition of the liver
coagulation; coagulative - clotting
contralateral - refers to a structure on the opposite side of the body as the reference point
coronal (frontal) - longitudinal plane dividing the body into equal or unequal front and back parts
cortex; cortical - the outer layer of an organ
cranial (superior, rostral, head end) - refers to a structure being closer to the head or higher than another structure of the body
cross (transverse) - plane perpendicular to the longitudinal plane dividing the body parts into upper and lower segments
cyanotic; cyanosis - animal or tissue appears blue or gray due to lack of blood oxygenation
D
deep - refers to internal structures or structures further away from a body wall than another
degeneration; degenerative - similar to depletion but implies a decrease in function and form
dehydration - lack of fluid in cellular and interstitial spaces
depleted; depletion - used up, exhausted-looking: a qualitative/descriptive term rather than a diagnostic one
diaphragm; diaphragmatic - the muscle separating thoracic and abdominal cavities
distal - refers to a structure being further away from the median plane or the root of a limb than another structure in the limb
dorsal - refers to the top side
E
edema; edematous - fluid accumulation within tissues, esp. connective tissues
emaciation - no body fat
endometrium; endometrial - inner layer of the uterus, mucosa
enteric - pertaining to the intestines
enteritis - inflammation of the intestines
epiglottis; epiglottal - the flap of tissue which closes off the trachea when swallowing
epithelium; epithelial - pure cellular (nonvascular) layer covering any free surface (skin or tubular structures such as intestines, esophagus, uterus)
exudate - fluid which has seeped out of tissues or vessels due to injury, increased permeability of cells, or inflammation
F
fibrosis; fibrotic - when connective tissue becomes rigid and firm; nonelastic
follicle; follicular - sac, pouch; also a columnar depression or cavity
friable - brittle
fundus; fundic - the bottom or lowest part of a sac or hollow organ; term used most frequently referring to the stomach
fungating - literally, growing as a fungus would; also having a spongy texture
H
hemangioma; hemangiomatous - a lesion of the blood vessels
hemorrhage; hemorrhagic - uncontrolled or copious bleeding
hepatic - pertaining to the liver
hepatitis - inflammation of the liver
hepatomegaly - swelling or enlargement of the liver
hilis; pl. hili - the medial indentation in an organ (notably lymph nodes and kidney) where the efferent and afferent vessels enter and exit
hydrocephalic; hydrocephalus - swelling of the cranium either due to fluid build up within or around the brain
hyperemia (congestion) - congestion; pooling of blood
hyperplasia; hyperplastic - increase in cell number within an organ or tissue
hypertrophy - enlargement of an organ or cell; swelling due to increase in cell or organ size
hypotaxia; hypotaxic - poor or weak movements; disorientation
I
icteric; icterus - yellowed, may be due to bile or bilirubin accumulation
in situ - in place
in vitro - in tissue culture
in vivo - in the living animal
incisor - teeth used to cut or incise, as opposed to guarding
inflamed; inflammation - changes in tissues caused by injury or abnormal stimulation, chronic irritation (redness, heat, swelling, pain and sometimes loss of function)
interstitium; interstitial - the microscopic spaces within tissues
intussusception - the telescoping of intestine over a lesion
ipsilateral - refers to a structure on the same side of the body as the reference point
K
keratinization - thickening of the epidermis by overproduction of keratin, forming calluses
kyphosis; kyphotic - the hunched posture shown by animals in distress or pain
L
larynx, laryngeal - voice box
lateral - refers to a structure that is further away from the median plane than another structure
lethargic; lethargy - reluctance or inability to move or respond to stimuli
lordosis; lordotic - the typical posture shown by many animals in heat with the rump and tail elevated
M
medial - refers to a structure that is closer to the median plane than another structure in the body
median - the midline, longitudinal plane dividing the body into right/left halves
medulla; medullary - hindbrain, mostly concerned with motor and basic life support functions; also the inner or middle portions of an organ
meninges; meningial - lining of the brain and spinal cord
mesometrium; mesometrial - the membrane holding the uterine horns to the body wall
metastasis; metastases; metastatic - spreading of a cancer to a distant site usually through blood or lymph vessels
micropthalmia - small eyes
morbid - sick
moribund - near death
N
necrosis; necrotic; necrotizing - cell death
neoplasia; neoplastic - new growth or abnormal tissue growth
nephritis; nephritic - kidney inflammation
O
ocular - pertaining to the eyeball or eye socket
P
papilloma; papillomatous; papillary; papilla; papillae - wart-like growth with or without a stalk
pedunculated; peduncle - having a stalk
perforate - having holes
perineum; perineal - the area of the vulva/scrotum and the anal opening
periosteum; periosteal - the membrane surrounding bones
peritoneum; peritoneal - lining of the abdominal cavity
pharynx; pharyngeal - throat area containing openings to both the trachea and the esophagus
piloerection - hair appears ruffled or erect, doesn't lie down smoothly, often found in dehydrated, typical of malnourished and very sick animals who don't or can't groom.
pleura; pleural - membranes lining the chest cavity and lungs
polydipsia (dypsia) - excessive drinking
polyp; polypoid - usually a smooth rounded growth with some length of stalk, similar to a papilloma but generally arising from an internal tissue
polyuria - excessive urination
posterior - refers to structure being more in back than another structure in the body
prepuce; preputial - sheath that protects the penis
prolapse - protrusion or slippage of an organ or tissue from its normal location
proximal - refers to a structure being closer to the median plane or the root of a limb than another structure in the limb
pulmonary - pertaining to the lungs
purulent - descriptive term for what is found in most abscesses or pus-like discharges
pylorus; pyloric - terminal segment of the stomach ending at the duodenal junction
S
sagittal - the longitudinal plane dividing structures into left and right halves
scirrhous - hard, firm
sebaceous - usually refers to an oily or fatty secretion
septicemia; septicemic - systemic infection caused by microorganisms circulating in the blood; whole body infection
serum; serous - the clear tannish fluid that separates from whole blood
sessile - lesion/mass without a stalk connected to main tissue by a broad base
splenic - pertaining to the spleen
splenomegaly - marked enlargement of the spleen
stroma - connective tissue network of tumor or tissue
subcutaneous - beneath the skin
superficial - refers to structures on the external surface of the body or a structure closer to the external surface of the body than another
T
thrombus - fibrinous mass atached to endothelial tissue or blood vessel
V
ventral - refers to belly side of the body
vertebra; pl.vertebrae; vertebral - bones along the spinal cord
vesicle; vesicular - small liquid or gas filled sac
visceral - abdominal structure and organs
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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