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POSTMORTEM EXAMINATION OF LARGE ANIMALS
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Necropsy procedure in ruminants
Follow the general procedure to be adopted before postmortem examination of animals as stated earlier
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Place the animal on the left side so that the rumen is away from the person conducting postmortem
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Make incision on the midline from between jaws to the perineal region, working around the mammary gland in females and external genitalia in males
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Remove the mammary gland with skin intact, examine for symmetry, swelling, lumps and firmness
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Examine the mammary lymph nodes
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Examine the penis and the prepuce in males
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Examine the umbilicus in young ones
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Lift the right leg away from the body
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Extend the incision to the medial side of each leg
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Separate right front and hind legs by cutting muscles and joints
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Extend the incision from the sternum to the pelvis and open the abdominal cavity
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Expose the thoracic cavity by cutting ribs at costochondral junction
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Separate the head from the neck
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Examine body cavities for fluid contents, adhesions and displacements of visceral organs
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Open the pelvic cavity by cutting the pubis
Examination of cardiovascular system
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Examine the pericardial surface of heart
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Incise the pericardium and examine for thickening and abnormal contents of pericardial sac
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Examine the epicardial surface of heart
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Cut open the heart on right side first and then left side
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Examine the contents of heart chambers
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Examine the myocardium, endocardium and valves
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Examine the adventitia of greater vessels
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Open the great vessels and examine the intimal surface
Examination of respiratory system
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Examine the nostrils and nasal cavity for ulcers and abnormal discharges
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Examine the nasal cavity for lesions
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Examine the thyroid and parathyroids for lesions
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Examine the thymus if present
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Open the larynx and trachea and examine the lumen and the mucosa
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Examine the mediastinal lymph nodes and make incisions and examine the cut surface
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Examine the lung by palpation for any areas of firmness, nodules or lumps
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Make multiple incisions in lungs on both sides including all the lobes and examine the cut surface
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Open the bronchi and other airways
Examination of digestive system and related organs
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Examine the mouth and tongue
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Remove the tongue by cutting soft tissues and the mandible
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Open the esophagus and examine the luminal contents and mucosa
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Remove the omentum
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Examine the splenic surface for lesions and examine the cut surface in multiple locations
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Free the liver from the attachment and examine the surface and cut surface for lesions
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Open the gall bladder and bile duct for lesion, worms, gallstones etc.
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Examine the pancreas and the mesenteric lymph nodes for lesions
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Open and examine the rumen, reticulum, omasum and abomasum for lesions and abnormal contents
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Straighten the intestine, cut open and examine
Examination of urinary system and related organs
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Examine the adrenals
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Remove the kidneys and then remove the capsule after
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incising the organ longitudinally
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Examine the cortex, medulla, calyses and pelvis
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Examine the ureters on both sides
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Open the urinary bladder and examine the nature of contents
Examination of reproductive system
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Remove the reproductive tract (testis if male; uterus and ovaries if female) and make a cut across the gonads and into the uterine lumen and oviduct
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Open and examine the vagina, cervix, uterus, oviduct
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Incise the ovaries in females
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Examine the testis and accessory sex glands
Examination of sense organs
Examination of nervous system
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Remove the skin and muscles to expose the skull
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Break open the skull to expose brain
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Cut the meninges, dissect out the brain and collect samples
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Cut the vertebrae and examine the spinal cord
Examination of musculoskeletal system
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Participants