L
labial surface
The term for the part of the tooth that touches the inside of the lips
labile
Something that is shaky or unstable
labium
A type of lip or fleshy divider or border
labyrinth
Another term for the inner ear
laceration
A cut into the skin that is made by accident
lachrymal gland
The gland that aids in the secretion of tears
lacrimation
A condition in which tears secrete normally
lacromotomy
A cut that is made into the lacrimal gland or the lacrimal duct
lactation
The formation and secretion of milk and the processes involved
lactiferous duct
The term for the tube that carries milk down into the nipples
lactiferous glands
The term for the glands that are found in the mammary tissue; they aid in the production of milk
lactogenic
Anything that is capable of stimulating the production of milk in females
lactogenic hormone
A type of hormone that is credited for stimulating the production of milk
lactometer
A type of tool that is used to calculate the density of milk
lambing
The act of giving birth to a young sheep
lambing loop
A length of wire that is used to assist in difficult lambing situations
lambing pen
A pen that is designed for ease and privacy of birth in ewes
lambing time
The part of the year when sheep are most likely to give birth to young
lamella
One of the several layers of a cell wall
lameness
Any type of pain or tenderness or lack of soundness in the feet or legs of animals
laminectomy
The removal of the lamina as a method of relieving pain and pressure on the spine
laminitis
An inflammation of the lamina in horses; causes pain or congestion of the lining
lane
Any road between fences that leads out to pastures or other open areas
lanolin
A fatty substance that is secreted by the glands in the skin of sheep
lapin
A term for a male rabbit that has been castrated
lariat
A rope or rawhide that is coiled on a saddle and used for restraining and branding livestock
larva
An insect that has hatched from an egg but has not yet reached the pupal stage
larvicide
Any type of substance that is used to kill parasites in their larval stage
laryngectomy
The act of removing the larynx through surgical methods
laryngitis
Inflammation of the larynx
laryngoplasty
The repair of the larynx through surgery
laryngoplegia
A medical condition in which the voice box becomes paralyzed
laryngoscope
A type of tool that is used to examine the larynx
laryngoscopy
An examination of the larynx done with an endoscope
larynx
The voice box; this is one part of the respiratory system
laser
A type of light device that transfers a bright beam; this is used for many medical purposes
lasso
The act of throwing a lariat so as to catch an animal by the neck or horns
latent
Term used to refer to an infection that is present but has not yet begun to spread
latent infection
The term for an infection that has been noticed but has yet to turn into an actual disease
lateral
Moving or located away from the midline; located along the side
lateral canthus
The corner of the eye on the outside; the corner that is found away from the nose
lateral incumbency
The act of lying on the side of the body
lateral ring bone
A growth on the side of the pastern on the leg of affected horses
lather
The collection of sweat on the hide of a horse
lavage
Irritating tissue with a great deal of some type of fluid
laxative
A type of medication that is used to loosen stool and relieve constipation
laxity
The degree to which something is loose or has not been tightened
layer
The term for a female that is kept solely for the purpose of producing eggs
lead cattle
The cattle at the head of the herd
lead line
A line at the top of an animal’s gum; its presence indicates lead poisoning
leg cues
Signals that are given using the rider’s legs that direct the movement of the horse
lensectomy
The removal of the lens through surgical means
lesion
A change in the way that tissue is constructed; a sore
lethargy
The condition of being drowsy, listless, or weak
leukemia
An increase in the number of bad white blood cells
leukocyte
White blood cells that are known for destroying disease and help to keep foreign substances out of the blood
leukocytosis
An increase in the number of white blood cells (abnormal)
leukopenia
A decrease in the number of white blood cells (abnormal)
libido
The measure of an animal’s sex drive or desire to mate
lice
Small, wingless insects that live as parasites on humans and some animals
life cycle
The series of changes that an organism goes through during its life
ligament
A band of connective tissue that hooks bones together or organs together
ligation
The actions involved in tying something
light feeder
The term used to refer to an animal that is being fed for maintenance and not for fattening
limbic
Another word for the border between something
limbic system
The part of the brain that deals with emotions and behavior
limited feeding
The manner of feeding livestock in which their basic needs for nutrition are addressed and attempts are not being made to fatten them or increase their level of productivity
linea alba
A band of tissue that connects the abdominal wall to the center of the abdomen; this is the white line that marks the midline of the abdominal muscles
lineal gland
The term for the gland that secretes the hormones that are responsible for the functions that come from the center of the brain
lingual surface
The face of the teeth that touches the tongue
liniment
Any type of solution that is used in the bathing and treatment of sprains and bruises; it contains a counter-irritant
linkage
The association of genetic traits from one generation to the next generation
lipase
An enzyme charged with digesting fat
lipemia
A medical condition in which there is a great deal of fat in the blood
lipemic serum
Fats in the blood that will have settled in the serum, causing it to appear cloudy
lipoid
Anything having to do with fat or fatty tissue
lipoma
A growth of fat cells, benign in nature
liquid manure
The liquid part of an animal’s excrement, usually urine
listless
Not with much energy; lethargic
litter
The group of offspring borne of the same laboring experience
litter floor
The floor in a poultry house; made up of straw, droppings, and other things and may build up over the period of one laying year
live foal guarantee
Usually a guarantee given by a breeding service, promising that the foal will be born live as a result of the service or there is no fee
live virus
Any virus that is still able to infect
live weight
The weight of an animal as compared to their weight after slaughter and dressing
liver
An organ found in living things that has a significant role in metabolic function and the production of bile
livetin
A type of protein found in egg yolk that is able to dissolve in water
loading chute
A chute that is used to help load animals onto a trailer or truck
lobectomy
The removal of a lobe by surgical means
local anesthesia
The absence of feeling after anesthetic has been infected into an area nearby
local effect
Damage or effects that are caused at the point where the contact was originally made, like damage to the eye
lofty
The term for wool that is springy when pushed down as compared to other types of wool
loggering
A riding position in which the rider holds the saddle horn rather than sitting up in the saddle
loin
The region that includes the back, the thorax, and the pelvic area
long coupled
The term sued to indicate an animal with too much room between their hip point and last rib
long yearling
Any animal more than a year old
loose hay
Hay that is stored without having been baled or compressed
loose rein
A style of riding or driving in which the reins remain generally relaxed
loose side
The left side of a carcass of beef
lope
A slower type of gallop
lordosis
The curve in the spine, usually associated with an animal being in estrous
louse
A type of insect, parasitic in nature
lower respiratory tract
The part of the respiratory system that holds the bronchial tree and the lungs
lugger
A term for a horse that pulls at his bit
lumbar
The part of the back between the pelvis and the thorax
lumbosacral
The connection or relationship between the lumbar and the sacral vertebrae
lumen
Any opening in an organ
luminous
Something that gives off a light, usually a soft one
lumpectomy
A term used to refer to the removal of a mass from the body by surgical means
lung
The organ involved with respiration
lunker
The term for a horse that is awkward or heavy or larger than average; may refer to other animals as well at times
luster
Sheen and shine, as referred to an animal’s coat
luxation
The dislocation of a bone from the joint
lymph
A fluid that makes up the liquid part of blood; it lacks color
lymph nodes
Small structures that filter out the lymph and store lymphocytes
lymphadenectomy
The removal of the lymph nodes by surgical means
lymphadenitis
A medical condition in which the lymph nodes are inflamed
lymphadenopathy
Any disease of the lymph nodes
lymphangioma
The collection of lymphatic vessels, forming a benign lump; this is not normal
lymphatic
Anything pertaining to the blood vessel system in the body
lymphocyte
A type of leukocyte in the body
lymphocytosis
A heightened number of lymphocytic leukocytes in the blood of an animal
lymphoid
Any tissue belonging to the lymphatic system
lymphoma
A term for a type of neoplasm that is made up of lymphoid tissue; these masses are usually malignant in nature
lymphopenia
A decreased number of lymphocytic leukocytes in an animal’s blood system
lysin
Any antibody that can dissolve cells or cause them to disintegrate
lysis
The breakdown of something or the destruction of something, biologically speaking
lysozyme
Any type of enzyme that is known to destroy bacteria