TYPES OF DIGESTIVE

SYSTEM
 A.) NON-RUMINANTS
Examples: dogs, pigs, rabbits, cats,
humans, monkeys.

Parts and functions of the Non-ruminant

digestive system:
1. Mouth – is composed of 3 accessory
organs:
1. Tongue – grasping food
Teeth – mastication of food
Salivary glands – produce saliva which
contains:
1. bicarbonate salts buffer
(regulate Ph)
2. salivary amylase to start
carbohydrate digestion
3. water to moisten food
4. mucin to lubricate the food for
easy swallowing
2. Esophagus – a muscular tube that allows
passage of food from the mouth to the
stomach
3. Stomach – a muscular digestive organ that has
3 major functions:
a.) storage of ingested food
b.) mechanical breakdown
c.) production of HCL, enzymes and
mucus
Regions of the Stomach:
a.) cardiac – cells produce mucus that
protects stomach lining
 b.) pectic – gland region in which
cells produce HCL , pepsin
(proteoplytic enzymes), and
mucus
c.) primarily mucus producing cells

4.) Small intestine – has 3

segments/divisions:
a.) duodenum – an active site of digestion
the receives secretions from the
pancreas, liver and intestinal wall
 b.) jejunum – middle section that is
involved in nutrient absorption
c.) ileum – last section, also involved
in nutrient absorption
5. Large intestine – has 3
sections/segments:
a.) cecum – first section which is
relatively large. In horses this
section contains bacteria
which produce enzymes that
digest fiber.
 b.) colon – middle section
which is involved
in the re-absorption
of water
c.) rectum – last section

6. Anus
 B.) RUMINANTS
Examples: cattle, carabao, goat, goat, sheep
Parts and functions of ruminant digestive
system:
1. 1.Mouth
2. 2.Esophagus
3. 3.Stomach – has 4 compartments:
a. rumen – large muscular
compartment which fills the left side of
the body cavity
- covered with projections called papillae
which are required for absorption of
nutrients
- storage
- soaking
- physical mixing and breakdown
- provide favorable environment for
protozoa and bacteria.
-These bacteria are responsible for the
significant pregastric fermentation which
produces:
1.) enzymes that breakdown fiber as well
as, starch and protein
2.) water soluble vitamins and vitamin
K
3.) bacterial synthesis of amino acids and
protein

Favorable condition which are provided in

the rumen:
*anaerobic environment
*constant warm temperature
*moisture
 *constant food supply
*mixing
*removal of toxic end products

b.) reticulum – has 2 functions:

1.) move food into the rumen
or omasum
2.) collection of dense
particles of food and in
regurgitation of ingesta
during rumination
 c.) omasum – a round muscular
organ which contains many
muscular laminae
(manyplies)
- functions not clearly
understood
b.) abomasum – very
similar/identical to the
gastric gland of the non-
ruminant
4. Small and Large intestine – very
similar in functions as in non-
ruminant
5. Anus
 c.) AVIAN/POULTRY/BIRDS
Examples: chicken, ducks
a.) Mouth – does not contain teeth, but
the beak is used to collect particles
of feed and to break some large
particles into smaller pieces
- tongue and salivary glands are
present, and the saliva does contain
salivary amylase
b.) esophagus – the esophagus of most
birds include an area called the Crop.
Crop functions as:

(1) temporary storage and moistning

of food
(2) a place for salivary amylase to
work; and
(3) for microbial fermentation in
some species
c.) proventriculus – corresponds to true
stomach as described for non-
ruminant and abomasum for the
ruminant
d.) ventriculus – commonly called the
gizzard
e.) small intestine – similar to the small
intestine of the non-ruminant and
ruminant
f.) large intestine – similar to non- ruminants
and ruminants in form and function
g.) cloaca/vent