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Ova
Ova (singular: ovum) are the female reproductive cells produced by the mare’s ovaries. Each ovum is a large, spherical cell containing the haploid genetic complement of the dam; when fertilised by a spermatozoon it forms the zygote from which the foal develops. The mare is seasonally polyoestrous: under long-day photoperiod she cycles at roughly 21-day…
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Endotoxin
Endotoxin is lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a structural component of the outer membrane of gram-negative bacteria. It is not secreted by living bacteria but released in large quantities when gram-negative cells lyse, are destroyed, either by the immune system, by antibiotics, or by the ischemic death of gut tissue. In horses, endotoxin absorption is one of the…
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Eared
Eared is a term describing a physical restraint technique in which a handler grasps one or both of a horse’s ears and applies firm pressure or a twisting motion to temporarily suppress the animal’s movement. The technique exploits the sensitivity of the ear and the horse’s tendency to freeze in response to the sensation, creating…
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Dysfunction
Dysfunction in equine medicine refers to the abnormal or impaired operation of a body system, organ, or tissue. Unlike structural pathology, which describes visible damage to tissue, dysfunction describes a departure from normal physiological performance, a system that exists intact but does not operate as expected. The distinction matters clinically because dysfunction may precede detectable…
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Mucus
Mucus is a viscous secretion produced by goblet cells and submucosal glands found in mucous membranes throughout the body. Chemically, mucus consists primarily of water, glycoproteins called mucins, electrolytes, immunoglobulins, and cellular debris including leukocytes. Its primary functions are lubrication of epithelial surfaces, trapping and neutralizing pathogens, and facilitating mucociliary clearance in the respiratory tract.…
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Mucous Membrane
A mucous membrane is a specialized epithelial tissue layer that lines body cavities and hollow organs opening to the exterior, including the oral cavity, nasal passages, gastrointestinal tract, and urogenital tract. The tissue consists of surface epithelium underlain by a lamina propria of loose connective tissue; goblet cells and submucosal glands secrete mucus that lubricates…
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Isolate
To isolate a horse is to remove it from contact with other horses , and ideally from shared airspace, water sources, and equipment , to contain or prevent the spread of infectious disease. Isolation is one of the most effective biosecurity measures available on a horse property because many equine pathogens spread directly through respiratory…
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Intravenous
Intravenous (IV) describes anything located within, or introduced directly into, a vein. In equine medicine the intravenous route is the fastest and most reliable method of delivering fluids, electrolytes, and drugs to a horse's systemic circulation: a substance given IV reaches peak plasma concentration within seconds, compared with minutes (intramuscular) or hours (oral). The external…
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Chumbivilcas
The Chumbivilcas is an Andean horse breed native to the Chumbivilcas province of the Cusco region in southern Peru, developed from Spanish colonial horses introduced to South America in the sixteenth century. It shares ancestry with other bloodlines of the Iberian-descended criollo family that spread through the Andes as Spanish colonizers moved inland from the…
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Cuban Paso Horse Breed
The Cuban Paso is a gaited riding horse developed in Cuba from Spanish horses introduced to the island during the colonial period. The breed is small to average in size, typically standing 13.2 to 15 hands, and carries a smooth four-beat lateral gait inherited from the Iberian horses that form its foundation. Its movement absorbs…