Glossary

acidosis A reduction in the pH of the blood, commonly due to an increase in blood carbon dioxide level.

adjuvant An added substance which assists or increases the effect of the main ingredient.

alar Related to the wing.

alopecia Hair loss.

anaphylaxis Increased susceptibility to hypersensitivity or infection on second exposure to a substance, characterised by a very rapid reaction.

anorexic Not eating.

anterior An anatomical term meaning towards the front (usually head) end.

apnoea Respiratory arrest.

arrhythmia Irregularity of the heart beat.

ataxia Loss of muscular coordination.

atopy A form of hypersensitivity, where there is a tendency to develop conditions such as hay fever, asthma and eczema.

axenic Animals that are free from detectable microorganisms.

barbering The chewing and nibbling of whiskers and fur by one rodent to exert dominance over another.

calculi Stones formed from mineral deposits, usually in the kidneys or bladder.

candling A technique involving shining a bright light through an (avian) egg shell to evaluate the embryo and blood vessels.

cardiac tamponade Effusion of blood or fluid into the pericardium which prevents the heart from being able to fill effectively, thereby causing circulatory failure.

caudal An anatomical term meaning towards the tail.

chromodacryorrhoea A non-specific indicator of stress in rats characterised by red staining on the face and nose caused by excess tear production overflowing onto the face.

cloned animal An animal produced by inserting nuclear material from one cell into another by nucleus transfer. The offspring are genetically identical to the parent.

conspecific Another animal of the same species.

coprophagy The re-ingestion of faeces carried out by rodents and lagomorphs to allow nutrients released during microbial digestion in the hindgut to be absorbed.

cranial An anatomical term meaning towards the head.

crepuscular Active at dawn and dusk.

cyanosis Bluish coloration of the skin and mucous membranes due to poor blood oxygenation.

cystocentesis Sampling urine by passing a needle through the abdominal wall into the lumen of the bladder (under aseptic conditions).

decerebration Removal or separation of the cerebral cortex, leaving the brain stem intact. Such animals are considered to be insentient but are still alive.

diuretic Promoting the excretion of urine.

dorsal An anatomical term meaning towards the back.

dystocia Difficulty in giving birth.

dysuria Difficulty or pain on urination.

effusion Escape of fluid from blood vessels or lymphatics into a body cavity.

embolism The passage of a blood clot or other particulate matter in the bloodstream to a site distant from the site of origin, causing blockage of a vessel.

emesis Vomiting.

endotoxaemia The presence of endotoxin (bacterial products) in the blood, which frequently results in shock, due to vasodilation.

epidemic A disease affecting a large proportion of individuals in a colony simultaneously.

epistaxis Bleeding from the nose.

exudate The extravasation of fluid and/or cells from the blood into the tissues, any body cavity or the surface, usually due to inflammation.

genetically altered animal An animal in which the heritable DNA has been manipulated intentionally. This includes genetically modified animals and harmful mutants.

genetically modified animal An animal in which there has been insertion or deletion of DNA in a way that does not occur naturally.

genotype The genetic makeup of an animal.

gnotobiotic Animals that harbour known microorganisms.

haemolysis The splitting or disintegration of red blood cells resulting in the release of haemoglobin.

harmful mutant An animal in which the genome has been altered by mutation or chromosomal changes, without insertion or deletion of DNA, with resulting potential for harm.

hepatotoxin A compound that is toxic to the liver.

hypercapnia A high level of carbon dioxide in the blood.

hypertonic One of two solutions, which has the higher osmotic pressure.

hypnotic As narcotic. A drug that induces sleep.

hypoglycaemia A low blood glucose level.

hypotonic One of two solutions, which has the lower osmotic pressure.

hypoxia A low blood oxygen level.

iatrogenic Caused through medical intervention.

infarction Necrosis of part of an organ or tissue due to blockage of its arterial supply, by a thrombus or embolus in the end arteriole.

isotonic Two solutions having equal osmotic pressure.

laparoscopy Examination of the abdominal cavity usually via the passage of an endoscope through a keyhole incision, for diagnosis or to perform surgical procedures.

laparotomy A surgical procedure involving incision into the abdominal cavity.

lordosis A position adopted by female animals in oestrus to facilitate copulation, with the back arched and the tail held to one side.

meconium The first intestinal discharge from a neonate.

morbidity The proportion of a colony infected by a disease.

mortality The proportion of individuals affected by a disease which die from that disease.

mutagenesis Exposing animals to chemicals, viruses or radiation to increase the rate of gene mutation.

narcotic A substance that induces sleep.

nephrotoxin A substance that is toxic to the kidney.

nystagmus A repetitive movement of the eyeballs, consisting of a slow movement in one direction followed by a rapid return.

phenotype The physical characteristics of an animal.

pheromone Hormone-like substance secreted by one animal that causes behavi- oural, physiological or endocrine changes in another.

phlebitis Inflammation of a vein.

posterior An anatomical term meaning towards the rear.

ptyalism Excess saliva production and dribbling

pyrexia Fever.

rostral An anatomical term meaning towards the nose or beak, used for describing structures on the head.

ruminal tympani Distension of the forestomach (rumen) with gas.

sedative A drug that produces a calming effect and drowsiness.

sentient Capable of feeling, perceiving sensations.

skin tenting A phenomenon, usually caused by dehydration, in which a fold of skin remains raised for several seconds after being pinched.

specific-pathogen-free Animals free from particular (named) microorganisms.

stereotypy The performance of unusual motor acts, repeatedly and often invariably, which serve no apparent purpose. Often indicative of an inadequate environment.

subclinical A disease causing no clinical signs. Often occurs prior to the appearance of manifest symptoms.

syncope A sudden fall in blood pressure or heart failure leading to cerebral anaemia and loss of consciousness.

tachycardia Rapid heart beat.

teratogenesis The production of abnormalities in a fetus due to exposure of the dam to physical or chemical insult.

therapeutic index The ratio between the lethal dose of a drug and its effective clinical dose.

thigmotaxis Wall-hugging behaviour.

thrombosis The inappropriate formation of a blood clot.

tranquillizer A drug that produces a calming effect without drowsiness

transgenic An animal into which additional genes have been inserted.

transudate The passage of fluid into the tissues or a body cavity, usually passively without inflammation.

urticaria Nettle rash.

ventilation A term used to describe forced breathing, by the application of positive pressure to the airways (intermittent positive pressure ventilation).

ventral An anatomical term meaning towards the belly.

xiphisternum Cartilaginous process on the caudal end of the sternum.

zoonosis A disease communicable from animals to humans.