Ithaca On A Foggy Morning

I've been consumed lately by my two anatomy classes, neuroanatomy and ruminant anatomy, but not so consumed that I couldn't appreciate the beautiful fog cloaking the scenery this morning. It's been snowing every day. Definitely not spring yet!

Turning 32

Me, not the cat. That is my messy bed, complete with bone box lying next to my pillow, as I studied yesterday afternoon. I have this tendency of spreading my notes out over every available surface when I study.

Well, this is it, I've survived 32 years on this planet. That calls for some celebration. How about a day of class going until 8:30 tonight? Sounds like the way to go to me.

Puppy Roll: Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever

I think she hands down wins the award for the cutest, most perfect patient in the hospital this week. Luckily she was only there for routine vaccinations.

I must admit she does look a little concerned in this photo about why a stranger is sticking a metal box in her face (then again, it could just be a look of curiosity). Poor puppy. Hopefully I didn't traumatize her with my camera and make her camera shy. I always forget that puppies are in a sensitive period during their vaccination series and can easily develop fears of new things so it is important to make everything as fun and not scary as possible.

Some Thoughts On Education

I'm reading a booklet called _Personal Reflections Of The Shoshone-Paiute-Washo_ published by the Inter-Tribal Council of Nevada in 1974. I'm reading it ostensibly to prepare for my upcoming RAVS trip to Nevada but also just because I find it interesting.

There's a chapter lamenting the education available on reservations. I found this quote (from Walter Voorhees) particularly interesting:

To say we educate 25% of our people is stretching the point. The way people pollute the air, water and the land and destroy our resources, leads one to wonder whether we have educated anyone.

It definitely made me pause and think for a second about what makes a good education. I've learned a lot here, but I can't say that there is an emphasis on protecting our environment or sustainable living. Heck, I know a lot of our farming practices are not sustainable.

I wonder what my education would look like if it had a more environmental slant to it. I'm glad I'm reading this booklet because it reminds me to keep that perspective in mind even when it is not required of me.

Bucolic Ithaca II

A Little Bit About Goats And Some Cool Anatomy Terms

I really like goats. SelfSufficientNurse is responsible for getting me excited about goats as she breeds and raises them.

I've learned about some unique aspects of goat anatomy in the past few weeks.

1. Goats lack a facial artery. (So do sheep). Practically, you can't take a pulse over the mandible for this reason. The lingual artery comes directly off the carotid artery. Arterial blood supply to the lateral face is provided by the transverse facial artery.

2. You have to anesthetize two branches of the cornual nerve, not just one as in the cow, to dehorn a goat. The two branches are a cornual branch of trigeminal nerve origin (zygomaticotemporal branch off the zygomatic nerve, said to be lacrimal too) located ventrally and cornual branches of the infratrochlear nerve located dorsally (exits from a depression in the dorsal bony orbit).

3. Goats (and sheep) may have a complete right azygous vein in addition to a left azygous vein (both draining the dorsal intercostal spaces in the thorax).

So there. Life really isn't that exciting when you are immersed in anatomy.

My favorite term so far--planum nasolabial, which is a tough plate of tissue separating the nostrils of cows.

Some other interesting terms--

• Plica vena cava-- a fold of pleura that extends from the mediastinum containing the caudal vena cava and right phrenic nerve; it is separated from the mediastinum by the right accessory lung lobe on which it leaves an indentation
  

• Trabecula septomarginalis (aka moderator band)-- Purkinje fibers that connect the interventricular septum and and the free wall of the right ventricle in order to coordinate the concurrent contraction of the cardiac muscle from apex to base
  

• Cupula pleurae-- parietal pleura that extends cranial to the thoracic inlet (in the cow more extensive on the right). I found this a very confusing concept in tech school-- that part of the lungs extend beyond the boundary of the "bony thorax"-- I've heard the extension being farther on one side as the reason one side is more prone to pneumothorax due to trauma, particularly in small animals and humans

• Supreme intercostal artery-- Artery that branches off the costocervical artery (off the subclavian artery) and supplies the first three intercostal spaces dorsally
  

• White zone-- junction of wall epidermis with epidermis of the sole, ascending infections in this part of the hoof are called 'white line disease' or 'purulent hollow wall'
  

• Pulmonary ligament-- connects lungs to dorsal body wall, created by pleura reflecting off the caudal lung lobes
  

• Sternopericardial ligament-- connecs apex of the heart to the sternum and thereby provides positional stability for the heart; formed by a connective tissue band that is a continuation of the fibrous pericardium
  

Snowy Bales Of Hay

We are having another snowy morning.

My stress level has gone down to yellow now that my radiology presentation is over and I finished taking my neuroanatomy quiz. I'm still worried about my ruminant midterm on Thursday.

And my eye is still bothering me.

Can't wait for this week to be over.