Department of functional morphology

The following subjects are in the Department for functional morphology:

Anatomy of the Animals
Histology & Embriology
Fisiology of the Animals

1. Definition of the subject:

Ensuring knowledge for macroscopic morphology of the animal body.

2. Status in the veterinary studies:

Basic subject in the veterinary medicine.

3. Goals of the subject:

The goals of the subject Anatomy of the Animals is to meet the students with the morphology of the domestic mammals (the horse, the ox, the sheep, the goat, the dog and the cat), as well as the poultry (presumably the chickens), ensuring a basis for studying fisiology and pathology.

4. Performing the lessons in anatomy:

Teaching anatomy is performed in first, second and fifth semester, with total number of lessons of 315, of wich 270 are in the first and second semester (120 lessons are theoretical, and 150 are practical), and 45 are in fifth semester (15 lessons are teorethical, and 30 are practical).

5. Metodology of the subject:

Theoretical lessons are performed in amphitheatre, using pictures, video presentations, visual illustrations, etc. Practical lessons are performed in dissection hall on cadavers from dogs, cats and pigs, and different parts of the body (legs, heads, necks), as well as plastinated preparations of different organs, systems or parts of the body from different species of animals.


Definition: acquisition of knowledge about the general processes in the embryology and microscopic structure of tissues and organs (histology) in domestic animals.

Location (position) of the subject: Basic subject

Purpose of the subject: The main objective of the study of Histology and Embryology course is to familiarize students with the general processes of growth, formation, cellular differentiation during embryonic development of the organism (general embryology); microscopic structure of tissues (general histology) and organs (special histology) in domestic animals. With this course, students will achieve better understanding of the other subjects within the field of functional morphology, but also this will be a solid foundation for further studies and better understanding of the pathological changes that occur during different diseases in domestic animals..

Teaching: I and II semester, 15+15 (first semester) and 30+45 (second semester).

Methodology of the subject: Theory: interactive, Power Point presentations (lectures in a large group with discussion and engagement of students).

Practice: conducted in microscopic laboratory (forms of work in smaller groups using light microscopes)


Animal physiology is a branch of the veterinary medicine, studying the interactions and functions of biological systems within living organisms. This science gets its name by the Greek words of “physis” (φύσις), which means “nature” or “origin”, and “logia”, which means “study of” or “science”. It is the science of the mechanical, physical and biochemical functions of animals, which are in good health. The principal focus of physiology is at the level of organs and systems. It is closely related to anatomy, which is the study of morphology, and physiology is the study of function. Due to the frequent connection between form and function, physiology and anatomy are intrinsically linked, and are studied in tandem as part of a medical curriculum.


Physiology is a basic subject in the veterinary medicine curriculum.


The animal physiology takes an important place in the veterinary medicine curriculum. Students are gaining the prequalification knowledge from biology, biochemistry, anatomy, histology and embryology. The final aim of our curriculum is for the students to learn the basic principles of the bodily functions so they can have better understanding for the clinical sciences in the veterinary medicine such as pathohistology, pathophysiology, microbiology, pharmacology, toxicology, internal medicine etc. The practical course trains the students to perform basic laboratory examinations of bodily fluids (blood, urine etc), and to recognize and describe normal bodily functions on live animals.


Physiology classes are spread through the third and fourth semester, with total of 195 hours (75+120). In the third semester, theoretical lectures take 45 hours and the practical lectures take 30 hours. In the fourth semester, theoretical and practical lectures take 60 hours each.


Theoretical lectures are interactive. Students are having discussion with the lecturer about a certain topic, and may be required to write an assay, which they will have to elaborate in front of the group.

The practical course takes place in the physiology lab. Students are required to perform, and to successfully complete a given task, individually. The tasks include hematological tests on blood samples, urine analysis, observing and exploring physiological behaviors of animals (measuring heart rate, auscultation of heart sounds, measuring blood pressure, observing and measuring the respiration rate, observing the act of rumination, measuring the rumination rate and rumen contractions, observing nerve reflexes etc.)