Directional Terminology

• What is directional terminology?

  Vets and nurses have shared methods of communication and saves time
• Dorsal

  Nearer the back of the animal and upper side
• Ventral


  Nearer the belly
• Cranial 


  Nearer to the skull
• Caudal


  Nearer the tail
• Proximal- only used on limbs 


  Closer to body
• Distal


  Further away from body
• Medial


  Nearer to midline
• Lateral


  Further away from midline
• Plantar

  “walking” surface of hindlimb
• Palmer


  “walking“ surface of forelimb
• Rostral


  Towards the muzzle
• RTA 


  Road Traffic Accident
• RTC


  Road Traffic Collison
• TPR


  Temperature

  Pulse

  Respiration
• NAD


  No abnormalities detected
• BAR


  Bright

  Alert

  Responsive
• DUDE


  Defecating

  Urinating

  Drinking

  Eating
• NSF


  No significant findings
• WNL


  Within normal limits
• PTS


  Put to sleep
• PBTO


  Pet Better than owner
• Cardi/o


  Heart
• Uter/o


  Uterus
• Hyster/o


  Uterus
• Enter/o


  Intestines
• Naso/o


  nose
• Gastr/o


  Stomach or intestine
• Rect/o

  Rectum
• Rad/o


  Radiation
• Ren/o

  Kidney
• Nephr/o


  Kidney
• Ovar/o


  Ovary
• Lapar/o


  Abdomen
• Rhin/o


  Nose
• Mast/o


  Mammary gland
• Urin/o


  Urine
• Electr/o


  Electricity
• Chemo


  Chemicals
• Arthr/o


  Joint