Animal anatomy is a fundamental subject for veterinary students, professionals, and educators, as it provides essential knowledge for their training and practice. In this article, I will explain the various reasons why a solid understanding of animal anatomy is crucial in veterinary science.
Quick answer: Animal anatomy is important to understand the form and structures of the animal’s organs and their relative position. Again, they are also important for diagnosis abnormalities, applying medicine, and performing surgery.
Now, let’s explain in simple terms why animal anatomy is important in veterinary science.
What is animal anatomy?
First, you should know the term animal anatomy in detail. Animal anatomy is the branch of anatomy that deals with the form and structures of the organs and tissues of the most important domesticated animals and birds. This subject of veterinary science is studied with an aided or unaided eye on a comparative basis.
You will get all the basic physical properties (like length, width, thickness, color, weight), topography (location, position), and structure (components of the organs – tissue, lobe, parts, vessels) of an animal’s organs in detail through the animal anatomy subject (Figure 1).
Why is animal anatomy important?
Animal anatomy is important for the following reasons –
- Basic ideas on the organs of the animal’s body system
- Form and structure of the animal’s organs
- Surface and topographic anatomy of the animal organ systems
- Comparison of organ systems in different animal species
- Understanding the organ structure and its function
- Applying anatomical knowledge to practical diagnosis, and
- Application of anatomical facts in surgery and medical care
Now, let’s discuss these topics in detail to know the importance of animal anatomy in veterinary.
Basic ideas on the organs of the animal’s body system
In animal anatomy, you will get the basic idea of the different organs of the animal’s body system. For example, the animal respiratory system consists of the nose (nasal cavity), pharynx, trachea, bronchus, and paired lungs. Again, the animal urinary system consists of paired kidneys (right and left), 2 ureters, and 1 urinary bladder (Figure 3).
Thus, you may know the systemic anatomy of the animals, which is very important for a beginner student.
Form and structure of the animal’s organs
This animal anatomy subject clearly describes the form and structure of each organ from different body systems. Thus, as a veterinary student, vet professional, and educator, you may know all the physical properties and components that make up the specific organ.
For example, the lung of animals has a specific length, width, thickness, shape, and specific color. Again, it consists of lung tissue, bronchus, pulmonary artery, pulmonary vein, serous covering (pleura), and hilus.
Again, the animal heart has its specific shape (varies in species), size, color, and length. However, it consists of 2 atria, 2 ventricles, an interventricular septum, a moderator band, different types of muscles (pectinate, papillary), aorta, pulmonary trunk, receives cranial and caudal vena cava (cd), and pulmonary veins (Figure 4).
Surface and topographic anatomy of the animal organ systems
While you will practice as a veterinarian in the field, you need basic and deep knowledge of the surface and topographic anatomy of different organs. Even for primary inspection, auscultation, palpation, and percussion, you might have deep knowledge of the surface and topographic anatomy of animal organ systems.
For example, if you want to auscultate the lung, you might know the surface anatomy and the relative position of it compared to the heart. But how will surface anatomy help you perform auscultation perfectly? Well, the animal lung is located at the triangular area created by the caudal border of the scapula, the olecranon process, the tuber coxae, and the last ribs –
- The line between the caudal border of the scapula and the olecranon process,
- A straight line between the caudal border of the scapula and the tuber coxae, and
- The line between the olecranon process and the last ribs
The triangular area for animal lung auscultation is shown in Figure 5. Again, the mid-area of the 5th, 6th, and 7th intercostal spaces can be a landmark for auscultation of the animal’s lung.
Comparison of organ systems in different animal species
It is better to learn animal anatomy on a comparative basis for a beginner anatomy learner. The animal anatomy subject helps the beginner to learn veterinary anatomy on a comparative basis.
Thus, you will be able to differentiate the organs or structures of different animals perfectly. Again, you will easily apply your comparative anatomy knowledge while you need to apply in different animal species.
Understanding the organ structure and its function
Animal anatomy also helps the veterinarian, veterinary students, and other vet professionals to under the function of specific organs according to their structure. This part of this subject is also known as the functional anatomy.
For example, the limb bones of the animals are design for the protection and movement of the animal’s body. Again, the wing bones of a bird are designed for flight (Figure 6).
Applying anatomical knowledge to practical diagnosis
This is another big reason why animal anatomy is important for veterinarians. If you have no practical knowledge of the surface and topographic anatomy of a specific organ, you will not be able to diagnosis any abnormalities of the animals.
You might have the knowledge of different organ structures, as well as different parts, structures, vessels, and nerves in the particular area of an animal’s body.
Application of anatomical facts in surgery and medical care
If you don’t know the anatomical facts and relative positions of different organs or structures, you can not perform surgery or medical care. For example, you want to perform rumenotomy in a goat, thus you might have the knowledge of the location of the rumen, incision site, muscles, vessels, and nerves in the particular incision site and rumen.
Conclusion
Thus, to understand the animal’s organs’ form, structure, and relative position, animal anatomy is important. If anyone knows these anatomical facts, then they can apply their knowledge for diagnosis abnormalities, applying medicine, and performing surgery in animals.
References
- Getty, R. : Sisson and Grossman’s The Anatomy of the Domestic Animals, 5th Edn. W.B. Saunders & Co. Philadelphia (USA)
- Thomas, P., Colville, Joanna M. Bassert., Laboratoy Manual for Clinical Anatomy and Physiology for Veterinary Techinques, Fourth Edn. Elsevier, USA.
- Dyce, K. M., W. 0. Sack and CSG Wensing : Text Book of Veterinary Anatomy, Lea & Febiger. Philadelphia
- Ghosh, R. K. : Essentials of Veterinary Histology and Embryology, 2nd Edn.Current Books International, Kolkata.
- Ghosh, R. K. : Primary veterinary anatomy, 2nd Edn.Current Books International, Kolkata.
