Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Includes a laboratory to study cadaver specimens.

This is part two of a two-term course sequence in Comparative Veterinary Anatomy and Physiology. The purpose of this course is to continue to instruct the veterinary technology student on the comparative aspects of anatomy and physiology between dogs, cats, horses, ruminants, pigs, laboratory animals, and birds.  

The course is designed for first-year veterinary technology students and is a graduation requirement for the Associates Degree in Applied Sciences in Veterinary Technology. Credits in this course are not transferable to a four-year school towards a baccalaureate degree.  

The text required for this course is Anatomy and Physiology for Veterinary Technicians by Thomas Colville. 

Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:

• Recognize the clinically relevant anatomical structures of the organ systems studied on a cat cadaver and/or sheep eye and brain.
• Describe the basic structure and function of the digestive system on a comparative basis between animals.
• Contrast the digestive physiology of ruminant animals with non-ruminants.
• Describe the structure and function of the endocrine system including clinically relevant hormones and the anatomical differences between species.
• Describe cardiovascular and lymphatic system structures, path of bloodflow, and contrast the differences between arteries and veins.
• Explain the function of the upper and lower respiratory systems.
• Describe male and female reproductive system structure and function on a  comparative basis.
• Compare the gross anatomy and function of the central and peripheral nervous  systems.
• Describe the clinical anatomy of the eye and ear, and the physiology of the special sense organs.

This course is designed to be a lecture-lab course. It is a four credit-hour course that meets for eight lecture-lab hours per week. 

The course provides instruction on the anatomy and physiology of the digestive, urinary, cardiac, respiratory, endocrine, reproductive, and nervous systems with emphasis on the comparative aspects between species of each organ system. It also includes the study of the organs of special sense.   

Grades will be based on the student’s understanding of the course content as demonstrated by periodic examinations, one comprehensive final exam, and by attendance. To receive a passing grade, the student must have attended a minimum of 80 percent of each of the lecture classes.

1.0  DIGESTIVE SYSTEM

INSTRUCTIONAL GOAL:
The goal is to provide an informational basis for the student to develop a detailed understanding of the anatomy and digestive physiology of the digestive tract on a comparative basis between species.

OBJECTIVES:  

1.1.0  Gross Anatomy
1.2.0  Specific and Microscopic Anatomy
1.3.0  Physiology
1.4.0  Digestive Physiology of the Ruminant  

2.0  EXCRETORY SYSTEM 

INSTRUCTIONAL GOAL:    
The goal is to provide an informational basis for the student to develop a detailed understanding of how the excretory system functions, and the anatomical differences between different species.

OBJECTIVES:  

2.1.0  Gross Anatomy
2.2.0  Microscopic Anatomy

3.0  THE CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM 

INSTRUCTIONAL GOAL:
The goal is to provide an informational basis for the student to develop an understanding of the anatomy and physiology of the function of the heart and blood-vascular system.  

OBJECTIVES:

3.1.0 The Heart
3.2.0  Discuss the anatomy of blood flow, from the artery to the vein and the relative structure of each, including specific characteristics of each.

3.3.0 The Lymphatic System
3.4.0  Physiology of the Vascular System  

4.0  THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM 

INSTRUCTIONAL GOAL:    
The goal is to provide an informational basis for the student to develop an understanding of the anatomy and physiology of the respiratory system. 

OBJECTIVES:  

4.1.0 The Upper Respiratory system  
4.2.0 The Lower Respiratory System
4.3.0  Respiratory Physiology    
4.4.0 Be able to recognize and identify related structures from a model, drawing, or on a cat cadaver.

5.0  REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM 

INSTRUCTIONAL GOAL:
The goal is to provide an informative basis for the student to develop an understanding of the male and female reproductive systems of the various species.  

OBJECTIVES:  

5.1.0  Anatomy of the Female Reproductive System
5.2.0  Anatomy of the Male Reproductive System 
5.3.0  Physiology of the Female Reproductive System
5.4.0  Physiology of the Male Reproductive System 
5.5.0 Be able to recognize and identify related structures from a model, drawing, or on the cat cadaver.   

6.0  NEUROLOGY 
INSTRUCTIONAL GOAL:
The goal is to provide an informational basis for the student to develop an understanding of neuroanatomy and neurophysiology. 

OBJECTIVES: 

6.1.0  The Central Nervous System 
6.2.0  The Peripheral Nervous System 
6.3.0  Be able to recognize and identify related structures from a model, drawing, or on the cat cadaver.   
6.4.0 Gross Anatomy of the Peripheral Nervous System 
6.5.0 Rear leg cat cadaver dissection

7.0  ENDOCRINOLOGY 
INSTRUCTIONAL GOAL:
The goal is to provide an informational basis for the student to develop an understanding of endocrinology. 

OBJECTIVES: 

7.1.0  Anatomy 
7.2.0  Physiology   
7.3.0  Identify related structures on a sheep brain 
7.4.0  Physiology of the endocrine hormones 

7.5.0 Be able to recognize and identify related structures from a model, drawing, or on the cat cadaver. 

8.0  ORGANS OF SPECIAL SENSE 
INSTRUCTIONAL GOALS:   
The goal is to provide an informational basis for the student to develop an understanding of the various organs of special sense. 

OBJECTIVES: 

8.1.0  The Eye
8.2.0  The Ear

8.3.0 Be able to recognize and identify related structures from a model, drawing, or on the sheep eye.