RUMINANT

DIGESTION
Lindsay Yeager

RUMINANT DIGESTIVE
SYSTEM

Large
Intestine

Small
Intestine

Esophagu
s

Omasum

Rumen

Reticulum

Abomasu
m

ESOPHAGUS
It receives food that has been chewed from the mouth.
The food is moved through the esophagus by a contraction

process of peristalsis

The trachea is blocked by the epiglottis, so food will not block the

airway
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJS-Kh5wCQU

ESOPHAGUS QUESTION
What are the wave like motions the muscles

use to move food towards the stomach called?

A) Hydrolysis
B) Peristalsis
C) Contraction

TRY AGAIN
Not quite. Remember there is a specific

name for the contraction of the circular

muscles to move partially digested food.

Back

AWESOME!
Peristalsis is the name of the contraction

of the muscles to move food down the

esophagus.

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RUMEN
The esophagus deposits the food here.
First section of the ruminant stomach.
Can hold up to 95 liters of food and liquid.
Contains microbes and bacteria to digest food.

RUMEN QUESTION
The rumen is known for primarily what

kind of digestion?
A)

Mechanical
B) Chemical
C) Microbial

TRY AGAIN
Are there things that live in the

stomach of animals to help with

digestion?

Back

CORRECT
Mirco-organisms live in the stomach,

specifically the rumen, to help digest

the food and release the nutrients.

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RETICULUM
Separated from the rumen by the reticular fold.
It removes waste and moves the food.
Small ruminants have larger reticulum.
Works with the rumen

RETICULUM QUESTION
What is the function of the reticulum?

A) Microbial digestion
B) Mechanical digestion
C) Removing waste products

TRY AGAIN
Not only digestion takes place in the

stomach.

Back

NICE JOB!
Right, the reticulum does remove the

waste products that the rest of the

parts of the ruminant stomach cannot
digest.

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OMASUM
Broken down food is deposited into the omasum
Has highly folded walls
Allows for water and salt to be absorbed by the body
Creates a large surface area so more nutrients can be absorbed

Works as a pump by moving food from the reticulum to the

true stomach

OMASUM QUESTION
Why is the omasum wall highly folded?

A) To absorb potassium
B) To create a larger surface area
C) To prevent microbial digestion

TRY AGAIN
Think about what the stomach does

absorb. What might be beneficial to

absorb nutrients at a more efficient
rate?

Back

WAY TO GO!
The omasum has many fold to help

increase the surface area. This

allows the stomach to absorb water
and salt more efficiently.

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ABOMASUM
True stomach
Constantly digesting food, because plants are so hard to break

down

Produces enzymes
Breaks down food

ABOMASUM QUESTION
What is the purpose of the abomasum?

A) To break down proteins into

amino acids
B) Microbial Digestion
C) To separate liquids and solids

TRY AGAIN
This part of the stomach is full of

enzymes and acids. These help in

the process of what?

Back

GOOD JOB!
This part of the stomach uses

enzymes and acids to break down

proteins so the intestines can easily
pull out nutrients.

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SMALL INTESTINE
It is 20 times longer than the length of the animal
Contains villi
Finger like structures used to increase surface area

Breaks down polymers into their monomers

Absorbs many nutrients and water

SMALL INTESTINE QUESTION

What is the function of the small

intestines?
A) To absorb polymers
B) To break down monomers into
polymers
C) To break down polymers into
monomers

TRY AGAIN
The small intestine uses enzymes to

break molecules into their building

blocks. What are these building
blocks called?

Back

AMAZING!
Polymers are the molecules as a

whole and monomers are the building

blocks.

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LARGE INTESTINE
Consists of the ascending colon, transverse, sigmoid colon,

rectum, and anus.

Transports sodium
Absorbs water by osmosis
Bacteria lives in the large intestine and help digest food
Eliminates waste that contains undigested and unabsorbed

food

LARGE INTESTINE
QUESTION
What is another name for the large

intestine?

A) Ileum
B) Colon
C) Jejunum

TRY AGAIN
What are the parts of the small

intestine? The large intestine?

Back

YOU GOT IT!

The large intestine can also be called

the colon

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