Non-Ruminant Digestive System Flashcards
What is non-ruminant digestion?
When food is broken down by chemical enzymes
Pigs and Horses
What forms the hard palate and what is it covered in?
The hard palate os formed by horizontal elects of the incisive, maxillary and palatine bones
It is covered by thick mucous membrane
What is the soft palate compromised of?
The soft palate of compromised of muscle and mucosa
Describe the structure of the tongue?
The tongue is a muscle which is covered with mucous membrane and is very mobile
It consists of 3 parts - the apex, body and root
The tongue is covered in papilla
Where are taste buds found?
- tongue
- epiglottis
- pharynx
- soft palate
- larynx
What is the function of saliva?
Saliva produces enzymes to aid in food breakdown
Describe the structure of the pharynx?
- caudal to oral and nasal cavity
- has a mucous membrane lining and is muscular
- divided into the nasopharynx, oropharynx, and laryngopharynx
What is the function of the pharynx?
The muscles on the walls are responsible for dividing food and air to the oesophagus and trachea
Describe the structure of the oesophagus?
- muscular tube, lined with mucous membrane and is folded
- runs from pharynx, dorsal to the trachea
- it enters the thorax, continues between the trachea and the aorta through the oesophageal hiatus into the abdominal cavity where it joins the stomach
Describe the structure of the stomach?
- simple stomach
- 1 compartment
- 4 sections (cardia, fundus, body, pylorus)
What is the function of the stomach?
Food is digested by enzymes and hydrochloric acid before entering intestines for absorption
What is the structure of the cardia?
- the walls of the cardia are thickened and form the cardiac sphincter
- located nearest to the heart
What is the structure of the fundus?
- large bulge near to the cardia
- enlarged in the horse to form a blind sac, which is called the saccus cecus
What is the body of the stomach?
The expansive part of the stomach
What is the pylorus of the stomach?
- bound by the pyloric sphincter
- it regulates the outflow of the stomach
What makes up the small intestine?
Duodenum
Jejunum
Ileum
What is the duodenum of the SI?
- starts the the pylorus of the stomach
- ducts from pancreas and liver open into the duodenum
What is the jejunum of the SI?
The longest part of the small intestine
What is the ileum of the small intestine?
- the short final part
- mucous epithelium features lots of goblet cells and lymph nodules called the peyers patches
What makes up the large intestine?
Caecum
Colon
Rectum
Anal canal
What is the caecum of the LI?
The blind ending sac
Describe the 3 parts of the colon?
Ascending
Transverse = runs from right to left side of abdomen
Descending = relatively straight and runs on left of the abdomen to the pelvic cavity where it ends at the rectum
Pig - Describe their caecum?
- it is a moderately large sac
- it lies to the left of the midline
Pig - Describe their ascending colon?
- it is a spinal arrangements of coils, which are arranged in a cone shape
Pigs - Describe their transverse and descending colon, and their rectum?
- it runs from a spiral loop and crosses to the left of the abdomen
- it becomes the descending colon and then onto the rectum
Horse - Describe their large intestine?
They have a large and complex large intestine
Horse - Do they have a rumen?
No
Horse - Where does fermentation take place?
Fermentation takes place in the caecum
Horse - Describe their caecum?
- it is a comma shaped structure that extends from the pelvic inlet to the floor of the abdominal cavity
- it is the primary site of fermentation
Horse - Describe their ascending colon?
- highly modified and large, divided into may sections
- first part is horseshoe shaped
- final part is called the right dorsal colon which becomes transverse colon as it crosses the midline back to the left of the abdomen
Horse - Describe their descending colon?
- continuous with transverse colon
- large diameter than the small intestine
- ends in the pelvic cavity as the rectum
What are the 4 accessory digestive organs?
- salivary glands
- parotid
- mandibular
- sublingual
What are the salivary glands?
Their are 3 main pairs
What is the structure of the parotid?
- it is ventral to the ear, and caudal to the bottom of the mandible
- ducts open near the 3rd/4th maxillary teeth
What is the structure of the mandibular?
- it is ventral to the parotid gland
- the ducts open under the tongue
What is the structure of the sublingual?
- it is ventral side, lateral surface of the tongue
What is the pancreas?
- it is a compound gland
- it has endocrine and exocrine parts
What is the function of the exocrine part of the pancreas?
- it produces sodium bicarbonate and digestive enzymes
- it empties into the duodenum
What is the function of the endocrine part of the pancreas?
- it produces glucagon and insulin which regular blood sugar levels
Where is the liver located?
- it is located immediately caudal to the diaphragm, usually on the right side of the
What are the 2 blood supplies for the liver?
Hepatic artery = supplies oxygen and nutrients
Portal vein = blood from the stomach, spleen, pancreas and intestines
What is the function of the gallbladder?
- storage of bile produced by the liver
- no gallbladder in the horse
