Ruminant GIT

Question 1

What is the oesophagus of ruminants like

Answer 1

Lies slightly to the left dorsolateral, before regaining a median position above the trachea bifurication
After passing this it goes over the heart

Question 2

What are the primary locations of choke in ruminants

Answer 2

Cervical region of the oesophagus
Thoracic inlet
base of the heart
hiatus of the diaphragm
cardia of rumen

Question 3

What is peristalis

Answer 3

The movement of intestine to propagate the movement of ingesta down

Question 4

What is the composition of the oesophagus like for ruminants

Answer 4

Entirely skeletal muscle

Question 5

What are the 4 compartments of the complex stomach in order

Answer 5

Rumen
Reticulum
omasum
Abomasum

Question 6

What are the three sacs of the rumen

Answer 6

cranial, dorsal and ventral

Question 7

function of reticulum

Answer 7

Serves as a pump to allow liquid to flow in and out of the rumen

Question 8

Position of the reticulum

Answer 8

6th to 8th ribs on LHS, cranial wall about the level of the elbow

Question 9

What does the left topographical side of the cow look like

Answer 9

Rumen and reticulum occupy the left abdominal cavity
Extend from diaphragm at 7th rib to pelvis

Question 10

Where is the abomasum

Answer 10

Lies largely on abdominal floor at about the midline

Question 11

Where is the omasum

Answer 11

lower part of the cranial abdomen on RHS

Question 12

What does the internal environment of the rumen look like

Answer 12

has pillars that divide the rumen into sections
Papillae line the rumen

Question 13

What does the internal environment of the reticulum look like

Answer 13

Honeycomb appearance

Question 14

What does the internal environment of the omasum look like

Answer 14

Lead like folds to inc s.a

Question 15

What is the gastric groove

Answer 15

Two spiral muscular folds with form a passage way from the cardia to the abomasum

Question 16

What is the function of the gastric groove

Answer 16

Allows ingested milk to bypass forestomach
- means it can avoid being fermented

Question 17

What are the functions of the omentum

Answer 17

Adheres to adjacent structures and can promote hemostasis and healing

Question 18

Features of greater omentum

Answer 18

2 layers - deep and superficial. both have a double layer of peritoneum
Inside = omental bursa

Question 19

What is the cellular structure of rumen

Answer 19

Short and long papillae
Stratified squamous epithelium
No lamina muscularis mucosa

Question 20

Cellular structure of reticulum

Answer 20

Sides and crests of long folds have conical papillae with keratinized tips
Lamina propria
Lamina muscularis
Tunica muscularis

Question 21

What is the modification to the colon of ruminants

Answer 21

Ascending colon is modified into a spiral colon

Question 22

What is the stomach blood supply

Answer 22

Celiac artery forms three branches
Splenic, left gastric and hepatic

Question 23

What is the intestine blood supply of ruminants

Answer 23

Bulk supplied by cranial mesenteric
1st part of duodenum supplied by celiac artery
Descending colon = mesenteric artery

Question 24

How is the ruminants GIT innervated

Answer 24

Vagus nerve (parasympathetic)
Splanchnic nerve (sympathetic)
Enteric nervous system

Question 25

What is the function of the vagus nerve in ruminant GIT

Answer 25

controls contractions of rumen and reticulum, rumination and reflex of gastric groove

Question 26

What is the function of the enteric nervous system in the ruminant git

Answer 26

Interacts with intestinal microbes, immune system and endocrine systems also interacts with epithelium to maintain mucosal defence and barrier