Anatomy, Physiology, and Pathology
Core concepts
Understand body systems: skeletal, muscular, cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, urinary, reproductive, endocrine, nervous, and integumentary. Know directional terminology (cranial, caudal, dorsal, ventral, proximal, distal, medial, lateral) and body planes. Understand homeostasis, thermoregulation, and species differences (e.g., ruminant digestion, avian respiratory anatomy). Know pathology vocabulary: inflammation, neoplasia (benign vs. malignant), necrosis, hyperplasia, and the difference between congenital and acquired conditions. Recognize common disease processes and their clinical signs.
Traps
Questions test directional terminology and body planes. Distinguish benign from malignant, and inflammation from infection. Watch for species differences in anatomy and physiology. Do not confuse signs (observable) with symptoms (reported).
Worked example / rule of thumb
Use the "plane and direction" rule: dorsal = toward the back, ventral = toward the belly, cranial = toward the head, caudal = toward the tail. Rule of thumb: benign = localized, non-invasive; malignant = invasive, metastatic. Apply directional terms consistently to avoid confusion.
Study focus
Prioritize directional terms, body systems overview, species differences, and pathology vocabulary (inflammation, neoplasia). Understand homeostasis and thermoregulation. Know signs vs. symptoms.