Laboratory Animal Technician
Certification Questions and Answers
Abduction
✓ ~~~The movement of a bone away from the mid-line of the body or
away from the axis of an extremity.
Abomasum
✓ ~~~The fourth stomach compartment of a ruminant animal; the only compartment that
secretes digestive enzymes and is thus a true stomach.
Abscess
✓ ~~~A localized collection of pus accompanied by swelling in any part of the body.
Accessory Sex Gland
✓ ~~~A gland associated with the urogenital tract;for example, the prostate and seminal
vesicles in males which provide the fluid needed for sperm transport during ejaculation
Acclimation period
✓ ~~~The time given to a newly arrived animal to become accuslomed to its new
surroundings before the research for which it is intended begins.
Acetylcholine
✓ ~~~A naturally occurring substance in the body t hat is involved i n the transmission of
nerve impulses.
Acid
, ✓ ~~~Chemical or solution with a pH below 7.Chemicals that have a very low pH can cause
chemical burns to the skin and should be handled cautiously.
Acquired immunity
✓ ~~~Immunity acquired through exposure to an antigen,which results in the activation of
immune cells and the formation of antibodies to this antigen. Also called active immunity.
Activity cage
✓ ~~~A specialized animal unit or cage that allows an animal to exercise freely while its
activity is being recorded or measured
Acute disease
✓ ~~~A disease having rapid onset and short duration.
Acute toxicity test
✓ ~~~A test in which the test animal receives a single dose of a test substance.
Adduction
✓ ~~~The movement of a bone toward the midline of the body or toward the axis of an
extremity
Ad libitum
✓ ~~~Making feed or water availble to the animal at all times
Adipose tissue
✓ ~~~tissue made up of cells that store fatty substances,such as lipids and fatty acids. Used
as a source of energy for the body. Also called fatty tissue
Adjuvant
, ✓ ~~~A substance that enhances the potency of another substance. In immunology. it is a
substance that enhances the immune response to antigens
Adrenaline
✓ ~~~A hormone that is secreted by the adrenal medulla into the blood stream in response
to physical or mental stress. such as that caused by fear or injury. Adrenaline causes a
rapid increase in blood pressure. metabolic rate, and blood glucose concentration. Also
called epinephrine.
Adrenergic
✓ ~~~A drug, or other subtance that has effects similar to epinephrine.
Adventitious
✓ ~~~Accidental or acquired; not natural or hereditary
Aerosol
✓ ~~~A suspension, fine mist. or spray which contains minute particles. Examples of
common aerosolized particles include pollen. medications (as in inhalation therapy)or
pathogens
Agar
✓ ~~~A polymer made up of subunits of the sugar galactose that becomes gelatinous when
dissolved in hot water and cooled. Used as medium for culturing microorganisms
Agonist
✓ ~~~A drug capable of stimulating physiologic activity
Agouti
✓ ~~~An animal color pattern in which the hairs are dark brown with yellow bands close to
the tips.giving the animal a light brown appearance.
Certification Questions and Answers
Abduction
✓ ~~~The movement of a bone away from the mid-line of the body or
away from the axis of an extremity.
Abomasum
✓ ~~~The fourth stomach compartment of a ruminant animal; the only compartment that
secretes digestive enzymes and is thus a true stomach.
Abscess
✓ ~~~A localized collection of pus accompanied by swelling in any part of the body.
Accessory Sex Gland
✓ ~~~A gland associated with the urogenital tract;for example, the prostate and seminal
vesicles in males which provide the fluid needed for sperm transport during ejaculation
Acclimation period
✓ ~~~The time given to a newly arrived animal to become accuslomed to its new
surroundings before the research for which it is intended begins.
Acetylcholine
✓ ~~~A naturally occurring substance in the body t hat is involved i n the transmission of
nerve impulses.
Acid
, ✓ ~~~Chemical or solution with a pH below 7.Chemicals that have a very low pH can cause
chemical burns to the skin and should be handled cautiously.
Acquired immunity
✓ ~~~Immunity acquired through exposure to an antigen,which results in the activation of
immune cells and the formation of antibodies to this antigen. Also called active immunity.
Activity cage
✓ ~~~A specialized animal unit or cage that allows an animal to exercise freely while its
activity is being recorded or measured
Acute disease
✓ ~~~A disease having rapid onset and short duration.
Acute toxicity test
✓ ~~~A test in which the test animal receives a single dose of a test substance.
Adduction
✓ ~~~The movement of a bone toward the midline of the body or toward the axis of an
extremity
Ad libitum
✓ ~~~Making feed or water availble to the animal at all times
Adipose tissue
✓ ~~~tissue made up of cells that store fatty substances,such as lipids and fatty acids. Used
as a source of energy for the body. Also called fatty tissue
Adjuvant
, ✓ ~~~A substance that enhances the potency of another substance. In immunology. it is a
substance that enhances the immune response to antigens
Adrenaline
✓ ~~~A hormone that is secreted by the adrenal medulla into the blood stream in response
to physical or mental stress. such as that caused by fear or injury. Adrenaline causes a
rapid increase in blood pressure. metabolic rate, and blood glucose concentration. Also
called epinephrine.
Adrenergic
✓ ~~~A drug, or other subtance that has effects similar to epinephrine.
Adventitious
✓ ~~~Accidental or acquired; not natural or hereditary
Aerosol
✓ ~~~A suspension, fine mist. or spray which contains minute particles. Examples of
common aerosolized particles include pollen. medications (as in inhalation therapy)or
pathogens
Agar
✓ ~~~A polymer made up of subunits of the sugar galactose that becomes gelatinous when
dissolved in hot water and cooled. Used as medium for culturing microorganisms
Agonist
✓ ~~~A drug capable of stimulating physiologic activity
Agouti
✓ ~~~An animal color pattern in which the hairs are dark brown with yellow bands close to
the tips.giving the animal a light brown appearance.
