macrocephaly
The term for a skull that is larger than normal
macrocytic
The term for a larger cell
macrophage
The term for a large cell that destroys things by eating them
macroscopic
Something that can be seen by the human eye without the use of a microscope
macula
An area in the middle of the retina that is yellow and depressed; may also be referred to as a fovea or macula lutea
macular degeneration
A medical condition in which vision loss occurs in the middle of the eye
macule
A lesion that is less than a single centimeter across; usually flat
maggot
The young of a fly; tends to be found in dead tissue or decaying tissue
malabsorption
The impairment of nutrient intake into the intestines
malaise
General discomfort of the body
malformation
Any growth or organ on an animal that is not normal
malignant
Something that becomes worse or life threatening as it spreads
malnutrition
A condition of poor health that results from poor feeding or no feeding at all
malocclusion
A condition in which the teeth do not connect properly
malpresentation
The positioning of a fetus in an improper way before birth
mammary glands
The glands in female animals that are used to produce milk; also called the udder or breast
mammary system
The entire system involved with the production of milk in female animals, including the udder, teats, and inclusive blood vessels
mammary vein
The term for the veins that are near the udder of dairy cows; they are located just beneath the surface of the skin on the belly of the cow
mammoplasty
The term for the repair of the mammary glands by surgical means
mandible
The term for the lower jaw bone; this is the only bone in the skull that has the ability to move
mane
The long hair at the back of the neck on a horse
mange
The term for a disease of the skin caused by certain mites
manubrium
The end of the sternum at the cranial point
mare
The term for a female horse over the age of four that has not been sterilized
marrow
The term for the fatty tissue that is found inside most bones
mastectomy
The surgical removal of the breasts or mammary glands in an animal
mastitis
An infection of the udder; may be infectious or not
matroclinous
Something that has to do with an animal resembling its male parent.
maxilla
The term for the upper bone of the jaw
meatus
Any opening
mechanical manipulation
The collection of semen for the purpose of breeding
meconium
The term for the stool of a newborn that collects inside the fetus’ intestines
medial canthus
The corner of the eye by the nose
mediastinum
The area in the thorax between the two lungs, where the heart, esophagus, aorta, bronchials, and thymus are located.
medulla
The inside part or region of something
medulla oblongata
The part of the brain stem that has control over the basic functions of life
medullary cavity
The inside part of the longer bones in the shaft
megacolon
The term for a colon that is enlarged abnormally
megaesophagus
The term for an esophagus that is enlarged abnormally
megakaryocyte
The term for a nucleated cell that has formed platelets
meibomian glands
The organs on the eyelids; may also be referred to as tarsal glands
meiosis
The division of sex cells in which each cell receives half the chromosomes
melanin
The term for the dark pigment in the cells of skin and hair
melanocyte
The term for the cells that contain melanin
melena
The term for black feces that has blood in it
menadione
Vitamin K3; this vitamin is essential for the control of bleeding
meninges
The term for the connective tissue around the brain and spine
meningitis
A medical condition in which the meninges becomes inflamed
meningocele
A medical condition in which the meninges protrudes from the skull or vertebrae
meniscus
The curved cartilage that is located inside some of the synovial joints in the body
mesencephalon
The part of the brain in the middle
mesentery
The part of the peritoneum that holds the parts of the intestines inside the abdomen
mesial contact surface
The part of the tooth surface that is closest to the middle
mesoderm
The middle part of the embryo
mesophiles
The various parasites and bacteria that grow at body temperature
metabolic
The chemical changes that occur inside the living cells of plants and animals
metabolism
The group of processes that involve the use of nutrients by the body
metamorphosis
The processes in which an organism changes from one form to another, like an insect does
metanephric
A kidney that resembles an embryo
metaphase
The phase in the division of cells where the chromosomes are arranged in a plane
metaplasia
The transformation of a mature tissue into another type of mature tissue
metastasis
The growth of pathogens away from the original site of the disease
metastasize
The occurrence or invasion of pathogens away from the point where they originally occurred
metatarsals
The term for the bones away from the tarsus and near the phalanges
metencephalon
The part of the brain including the pons and cerebellum
methane
A colorless gas with no odor; can be volatile in a certain environment and is often the product of the decomposition of waste and other products
methionine
An amino acid that contains sulfur
metritis
A condition in which the uterus becomes inflamed
microbes
The term for plant life or animal life that is microscopic
microbiologist
The term for a scientist that deals with the study of plant life and animal life in microscopic sizes
microcephaly
The term for a skull that is small and abnormally so
microcytic
The term for a very small cell
microorganism
The term for an organism that is alive but is microscopic in size
microphthalmia
The term for eyes that are strangely small
micropyle
The opening in an ovule where sperm enters
micturition
The excretion of urine
midbrain
The part of the brain stem that runs from the cerebrum to the pons
milt
A gland near the stomach of some fowl birds that helps to form new blood cells
miotic agent
Any substance that is utilized for the purpose of constricting pupils
mites
Any type of arachnid excluding ticks
miticide
Any type of poison that is used in the killing of mites
mitosis
The division of cells in which each cell has the full amount of chromosomes
mitral valve
The fold of membrane found between the left atrium and left ventricle
molar
The cheek teeth of an animal
molt
The action of shedding old feathers or horns before new ones come in
molting
The act of interrupting the laying of eggs
monestrous
The property of having only one heat cycle in a season
mongrel
The term for an animal of mixed breed
monochromatism
The inability to distinguish certain colors from one another; color blindness
monocyte
A type of leukocyte with phagocytic abilities
monocytopenia
The act of decreasing the number of monocytic leukocytes in an animal’s bloodstream.
monocytosis
The increase of numbers of leukocytes in the blood
monofilament
A strand of material that is singular
monogamous
The quality of being able to pair with a single mate
monogastric
The term for an animal with a single stomach compartment
monohybrid
A type of hybrid in which the parents only have one difference in character
monophagia
The act of eating only one meal per day or only one single type of food
monoplegia
The quality of having one limb paralyzed
monorchid
A type of animal who has only had a single testicle descend into its scrotum
monovalent
A type of vaccine that has been created just for a single type of organism or antigen
morphogenesis
The history of certain organisms or their various parts
mouthing
The act of determining an animal’s age by looking at its teeth
mucoid
Something that bears a resemblance to mucus
mucolytic
The breaking down of mucus
mucopurulent
Something that contains mucus and/or pus
mucous membrane
A special type of tissue that exudes mucus
multifilament
The term for something with multiple strands that is entwined together
multiparous
The term for an animal that has given birth on more than one occasion
murine
The term for mice and rat-like rodents
mustang
The term for a wild horse that has descended from a type of Spanish horse
mutagen
The term for a type of agent that works with DNA to create a change in the makeup of a cell
mutagenic
Something that is able to change genetic abnormalities
mutant
A different type of something; a type of offspring that is different from its parents and others like it
mutualism
The term for the relationship between two organisms that depends upon one another
muzzle
The term for the nostrils and muscles in the upper and lower lips of an animal; may also be used to describe a type of tool used to keep an animal from biting
myasthenia
The term for weakness of the muscles
mycology
The study of fungus
mycosis
A type of disease that is created by the presence of fungus in living things
mycotic disease
Any type of disease that is created by a fungus
mycotoxins
A type of chemical that is created by fungus; it may calls illness or death when eaten
myelin
A type of covering over certain nerve cells; may be found in areas of the spinal cord or on the brain’s white matter
myelitis
An inflammation of the bone marrow or spinal cord
myelogram
A picture that is taken of the spinal cord after dye is injected; may also be used to take a count of white blood cells
myelography
The study of the spine after dye has been injected
myeloma
A type of tumor made up of certain cells in the bone marrow
myelopathy
A disease of the bone marrow or of the spine
myiasis
The larvae of flies in tissue
myocarditis
The inflammation of myocardium
myocardium
The term for the thickest layer of the heart muscle
myoclonus
The contraction of the muscles in the skeleton
myometrium
The layer of the uterus made up of muscles
myoparesis
Weakness of the muscles
myopathy
A condition of the muscles in which they are diseased
myoplasty
The removal of muscles by surgery
myosarcoma
The neoplasm that is made up of certain muscles
myositis
A medical condition in which muscles become inflamed
myotomy
An incision that is made into a muscle
myotonia
The relaxation of muscles that is delayed after they have contracted
myringectomy
The removal of part of the ear drum by surgery
myringitis
A medical condition that results from the ear drum becoming inflamed
myxoma
A type of tumor that is made up of connective tissues
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