Digestive System Flashcards
What is a ruminant?
A ruminant is an animal that has a specialized stomach with four compartments, allowing it to digest fibrous plant material.
What are the four compartments of a ruminant’s stomach?
The four compartments are the rumen, reticulum, omasum, and abomasum.
What is prehension?
The use of lips and tongue
Name one example of a monogastric animal.
Examples include pigs, humans, and dogs.
Fill in the blank: Ruminants primarily digest ________ material.
cellulose
What is the primary function of the rumen?
The rumen acts as a fermentation chamber where microbes break down fibrous plant materials.
What is the role of saliva in ruminant digestion?
Saliva helps to buffer the rumen and provides enzymes for initial digestion.
Which stomach compartment is known as the ‘true stomach’ in ruminants?
The abomasum.
What is the role of goblet cells?
Secrete mucous to lubricate food and protect stomach wall.
True or False: Monogastric animals rely on microbial fermentation in their stomachs.
False.
What is the primary digestive enzyme in the stomach of monogastric animals?
Pepsin.
Fill in the blank: The ________ is the first compartment of a ruminant’s stomach.
rumen
What is the primary source of energy for ruminants?
Volatile fatty acids produced during fermentation.
What do parietal cells secrete?
Hydrochloric acid which kills pathogens and activates pepsin to break down proteins.
What is the process of regurgitating and re-chewing food called in ruminants?
Rumination.
True or False: The omasum absorbs water and nutrients in ruminants.
True.
What is the primary function of the reticulum in ruminants?
To catch foreign objects and aid in the fermentation process.
Fill in the blank: Monogastric animals primarily digest ________ and ________ in their stomach.
proteins, carbohydrates
What type of diet do monogastric animals typically have?
They have a more varied diet that can include meat, grains, and vegetables.
Multiple Choice: Which stomach compartment follows the reticulum in ruminants? A) Rumen B) Omasum C) Abomasum
B) Omasum
What is the main advantage of the ruminant digestive system?
It allows for the efficient breakdown of fibrous plant materials.
True or False: All herbivores are ruminants.
False.
What is the main difference in digestion between ruminants and monogastrics?
Ruminants ferment food in a multi-chambered stomach, while monogastrics digest food in a single chamber.
Fill in the blank: The ________ is responsible for the majority of nutrient absorption in monogastric animals.
small intestine
What role do microbes play in the digestive system of ruminants?
Microbes help to break down complex carbohydrates and synthesize vitamins.
