Digestion
The process of taking in food, breaking it down into nutrients, and absorbing those nutrients into the body.
What is digestion?
Animals like pigs and humans have this type of digestive system with one stomach chamber.
What is a monogastric digestive system?
This replaces the upper teeth in cattle and sheep.
What is a dental pad?
Birds must ingest this material to help grind food.
What is grit?
These microorganisms help ruminants digest cellulose.
What are bacteria?
The wave-like muscle movement that pushes food through the digestive tract.
What is peristalsis?
This organ connects the mouth to the stomach.
What is the esophagus?
The process of regurgitating food and chewing it again.
What is regurgitation (or chewing cud)?
This structure stores food before digestion begins.
What is the crop?
Animals like cows, sheep, and goats have this type of digestive system with four stomach compartments.
What is a ruminant digestive system?
The enzyme found in monogastric saliva that begins breaking down starches.
What is amylase?
Cells in the stomach wall produce this acid that helps break down food.
What is hydrochloric acid?
The largest stomach compartment in a ruminant.
What is the rumen?
The glandular stomach where digestive enzymes and acid begin digestion.
What is the proventriculus?
Most fermentation in ruminants occurs in this compartment.
What is the rumen?
Tiny finger-like structures in the small intestine that increase surface area for nutrient absorption.
What are villi?
The three sections of the small intestine are duodenum, jejunum, and this section.
What is the ileum?
This stomach compartment has a honeycomb lining.
What is the reticulum?
The muscular stomach that grinds food.
What is the gizzard?
Animals such as horses and rabbits are examples of this type of digestive system.
What are hindgut fermenters or pseudoruminants?
The valve that controls the movement of food from the stomach into the small intestine.
What is the pyloric valve?
The main function of the large intestine is to do this with water.
What is absorb water?
This stomach compartment is known as the “true stomach.”
What is the abomasum?
The location where digestive, urinary, and reproductive tracts meet.
What is the cloaca?
Animals such as pigs and humans are examples of this type of digestive system with one stomach.
What is a monogastric digestive system?