Digestive System Flashcards
How is the ruminant digestive system adapted for breaking down cellulose?
Ruminants have a four-chambered stomach (rumen, reticulum, omasum, abomasum), where microbial fermentation in the rumen breaks down cellulose.
What is the role of the rumen in ruminants?
The rumen hosts microorganisms that ferment plant material, breaking down cellulose into simpler compounds that can be absorbed and used by the animal.
What role do the sharp teeth of carnivores play in digestion?
Sharp, pointed teeth (e.g., canines) help tear meat into smaller pieces for easier swallowing and digestion.
How is the digestive system of carnivores adapted to their diet?
Carnivores have a relatively short digestive tract, as proteins and fats from animal tissue are easier to digest than plant material.
How does the abomasum function in ruminants?
The abomasum is the “true stomach” where acidic digestion with enzymes occurs, similar to the monogastric stomach.
What are gastrovascular cavities
simple digestive system with only one opening, serving as both mouth and anus.
What is the function of the cecum in non-ruminant herbivores like horses?
The cecum hosts bacteria that ferment plant material and break down cellulose, allowing absorption of nutrients in the large intestine.
How is the digestive system of herbivores adapted to digest cellulose?
Herbivores have long digestive tracts, including specialized structures like the cecum in non-ruminants or multi-chambered stomachs in ruminants, for fermenting cellulose.
How does coprophagy (eating feces) benefit some herbivores like rabbits?
Coprophagy allows animals to re-digest partially fermented food to absorb more nutrients, particularly from cellulose.
What is a key difference between the digestive systems of ruminants and non-ruminant herbivores?
Ruminants have a multi-chambered stomach for fermentation, while non-ruminant herbivores rely on an enlarged cecum and colon for cellulose digestion
How does digestion in carnivores differ from herbivores?
Carnivores have shorter, more acidic digestive tracts optimized for protein digestion, while herbivores have longer tracts with specialized structures for fermenting plant material.
What are the 4 types of teeth
- incisors
- canines
- premolars
- molars
What are the function of these teeth in herbivores?
the molars of herbivores are wider and flatter, designed to grind food, and aid in digestion. Herbivore incisors are sharp for tearing plants, but they may not be present on both the upper and lower jaw.
What are the functions of these teeth in carnivores?
The sharp incisors and pointed canine teeth are perfectly designed for both incapacitating and eating a meal. The molars are fewer in number than other animals may have, mainly because so much of the work is done by the teeth in the front of the mouth
What is the function of these teeth in omnivores?
Animals with teeth like humans that use their molars for grinding and their incisors and canines for ripping or tearing
