GLOSSARY

Words followed by this symbol 0 are defined here

antibody--- disease-fighting substance produced by the body in response to the presence of an antigen. axial--- pertaining to an axis or to motion around an axis. body condition score (BCS)---a designation, based on a nine-point numeric scale, indicating the amount of fat on a horse’s body. A BCS is assigned after a visual and hands-on appraisal. deep digital flexor tendon--- tendon connecting the deep muscles at the back of the forearm and gaskin to the coffin bone in the foot. DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)---large organic molecule that consists of two chains of nucleotides wound around each other; the material of which genes are made. Genes are responsible for the individual inherited characteristics of living organisms. equine herpesvirus (EHV)--- a family of viruses that primarily cause chronic respiratory infections in horses (EHV-1, EHV-4). EHV1 can also cause abortions in mares and, in rare cases, both EHV-1 and -4 can cause neurological signs, including progressive weakness and incoordination. EHV-3 causes a venereal disease called equine coital exanthema. equine metabolic syndrome (EMS)--endocrine disorder characterized by increased fat deposits in specific locations of the body or overall obesity; insulin resistance, which leads to abnormally high levels of the hormone circulating in the bloodstream; and a predisposition toward laminitis in the absence of other recognized causes. gene--- the fundamental physical and functional unit of heredity; an ordered sequence of nucleotides located in a particular position on a particular chromosome that encodes a specific functional product. glucose--- a carbohydrate, the principal form of sugar found in the blood; a source of energy when metabolized. insulin resistance--- metabolic disorder, similar to type 2 diabetes, that occurs when certain cells in the body become less sensitive to the action of insulin, and normal amounts of the hormone can no longer keep adequate amounts of glucose moving into the cells for use as fuel.

laminitis--- inflammation of the sensitive plates of soft tissue (laminae) within the horse’s foot caused by physical or physiologic injury. Severe cases of laminitis may result in founder, an internal deformity of the foot. Acute laminitis sets in rapidly and usually responds to appropriate, intensive treatment, while chronic laminitis is a persistent, long-term condition that may be unresponsive to treatment.

osteochondritis (epiphysitis, osteochondrosis, subchondral cyst)---disturbance in the conversion of cartilage to bone in the growth plates and/or joint surfaces of the long bones of young, rapidly growing animals; sometimes causes lameness that first appears or worsens with work.

pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID, Cushing’s disease)---disease caused when the cortex of the adrenal gland produces excessive amounts of hormones, including cortisol; signs include persistent long hair, thin skin, fragile bones, stupor, weakness and sweating. rainrot (rain scald)---crusted, painful, infectious skin inflammation, caused by Dermatophilus congolensis, which lifts the hair and removes it at its root, resulting in slipping away of affected areas of the hair coat. Triggered by moisture. spinous processes--- bony protrusions at the top of the vertebrae of the torso. suspensory apparatus--- slinglike arrangement of ligaments and small bones that support the fetlock when the leg is weighted; includes the suspensory ligaments, proximal sesamoid bones and inferior sesamoidean ligaments. suspensory ligament--- strip of fibrous tissue running from the back of the upper cannon bone over the fetlock joint to the pastern bones. Provides major support for the fetlock joint, preventing it from sinking to the ground. titer--- measurement of the concentration of an antibody in blood serum or other solution. “High titer” refers to blood serum containing high antibody levels. transverse processes--- bony protrusions on each side of the vertebrae. ultrasound--- high-frequency sound waves, above the range of human hearing. Ultrasound is used diagnostically, to image body structures, and therapeutically, to break down unwanted tissue and promote healing by stimulating circulation.