Author Question: List the four compartments of the ruminant stomach and explain the function of ... (Read 82 times)

jparksx

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 570
List the four compartments of the ruminant stomach and explain the function of each.

Question 2

What is the difference between the digestive system of a ruminant and a nonruminant animal?



tdewitt

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 318
Answer to Question 1

(a) The rumen is the largest compartment and makes up about 80 percent of the total capacity of the
stomach. The rumen is where the bacteria and microorganisms act on the food material and where
digestion takes place.
(b) The reticulum is closely associated with the rumen. The reticulum works with the rumen in formation of
the cud for regurgitation. Foreign bodies, such as nails or pieces of wire, can be held in the reticulum for
long periods without causing serious injury.
(c) The omasum removes large amounts of water from the food as it moves from the rumen to the abomasum.
(d) The abomasum functions very similarly to the stomach of single-stomached animals.

Answer to Question 2

Ruminant animals differ from nonruminants in several ways:
(a) The ruminant stomach consists of four compartments.
(b) Food material in the ruminant system is acted on by millions of bacteria and microorganisms.
(c) These bacteria and microorganisms transform low-quality protein and some nitrogen compounds into
essential amino acids.
(d) The bacteria and microorganisms also aid in the manufacture of needed vitamins, including the
B-complex group.
(e) Food material not fully digested in the rumen can be regurgitated in the form of cud. The animal chews
on this cud and then swallows it back down into the rumen for further digestion.
(f) The ruminant digestive system can utilize large amounts of roughage.



Related Topics

Need homework help now?

Ask unlimited questions for free

Ask a Question
 

Did you know?

Approximately 500,000 babies are born each year in the United States to teenage mothers.

Did you know?

If you could remove all of your skin, it would weigh up to 5 pounds.

Did you know?

More than 20 million Americans cite use of marijuana within the past 30 days, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). More than 8 million admit to using it almost every day.

Did you know?

The longest a person has survived after a heart transplant is 24 years.

Did you know?

Although the Roman numeral for the number 4 has always been taught to have been "IV," according to historians, the ancient Romans probably used "IIII" most of the time. This is partially backed up by the fact that early grandfather clocks displayed IIII for the number 4 instead of IV. Early clockmakers apparently thought that the IIII balanced out the VIII (used for the number 8) on the clock face and that it just looked better.

For a complete list of videos, visit our video library