Digestion “From Food to Feces” How would you digest that? Mmmmm….

Monogastric Mono (Latin) = One Gaster (Greek) = Stomach Characteristic of humans and pigs. Other examples include omnivores such as rats, chickens and dogs; carnivores such as cats; and herbivores such as horses and rabbits.  Characterized by ONE stomach with ONE compartment Due to this one stomach, feedstuffs must be in the form of grains as they are easier to digest

How do you get swine flu? 

Monogastric Digestive System “It all starts with the mouth… open up!” Comprised of: Mouth Esophagus Stomach Small Intestine Cecum Large Intestine Rectum

Monogastric Mouth Where food enters the digestive tract My teeth are amazingly strong. Did you know chewing is also called MASTICATION? Mouth Where food enters the digestive tract Teeth chew to break down food Enzymatic breakdown of starch begins Amylase is an enzyme in saliva which breaks down starch The tongue helps move food around and push it to the next part of the digestive system

Monogastric Mouth

Are you our Mommy?

I really have to go the bathroom! Monogastric I really have to go the bathroom! Esophagus Tube-like structure which carries food from the mouth to the stomach Pushes with a series of muscle contractions called PERISTALSIS.

Monogastric Stomach Chamber where chemicals are added to the food Cells secrete hydrochloric acid and enzymes These help break down food into basic carbohydrates, proteins, and fats Some smaller particles are absorbed into the blood stream through the stomach wall

Monogastric Stomach

Monogastric Absorbs nutrients! Small Intestine Complex tube which lies in a spiral Absorbs nutrients! Cells produce enzymes to help break down food further

I have a really big cecum! Monogastric I have a really big cecum! Cecum Known as the “blind gut”, it it shaped like a pouch. Located between the small and large intestines Has little function in the monogastric digestive system Rabbits and horses have a large cecum.

Monogastric Large Intestine Shorter than the small intestine, but larger in diameter Main function is the absorption of water! Mucus is added to the matter to make it easier to pass through the rest of the system

Monogastric Rectum The terminal portion of the large intestine Leads to the anus (where the remaining wastes – feces - are passed outside of the body)

Monogastric Cecum and Large Intestine

How well do you remember?

Polygastric Poly (Latin) = Many Gaster (Greek) = Stomach Gosts, sheep, cattle, deer, camels, giraffes, llamas and more. They are all herbivores. Characterized by a stomach with four compartments Used for the digestion of mass quantities of roughages Hay and grasses

If you are wondering…I am a YAK If you are wondering…I am a YAK! I am proud to say I chew my CUD; I am a ruminant!

Ruminant Polygastric animals are known as RUMINANTS. The name comes from one the stomach compartments called the RUMEN (read on to learn about it). The word "ruminant" comes from the Latin ruminare, which means "to chew over again".

What is so special about ruminants? They can use the energy from the plants they eat and produce milk and proteins (meat), which we cannot. We cannot get much nutrition/energy from plants, but the fiber aids our digestion. When we eat ruminant meat and drink their milk, the energy they obtained from plants and stored in their muscles (meat) and milk is transferred to our bodies – remember the food chain?

All plants are made, in part, of a very complex carbohydrate called cellulose. This is the material that gives plants their strength, their ability to stand tall even though they have no bones. Cellulose provides structure by surrounding each cell with a tough wall (cell wall, remember?). Cellulose in foods is usually called dietary fiber. Since we, humans cannot get energy from fiber, we eat products that come from animals than can!!!

Wake up…we’re not done!

Ruminant Digestive System Comprised of: Mouth Esophagus Stomach Rumen Reticulum Abomasum Omasum Small Intestine Cecum Large Intestine Rectum STOMACH – in a cow, it can hold up to 50 gallons of food!!!!

Ruminant Mouth Functions the same as in monogastrics except: What’s up…I’m chewing my Cud…Sometimes I chew over 100 times before swallowing! Mouth Functions the same as in monogastrics except: Ruminants regurgitate their food and re-chew it A cow makes between 40,000-60,000 jaw movements a day chewing

Ruminant Esophagus Same as in a monogastric except: Cardiac valve allows animal to regurgitate feed stuffs to be chewed repeatedly

Ruminant What is so grand about regurgitating food? Would you like to eat this? If you did eat this, how efficiently would your body break it down? Your monogastric system was not made to breakdown feed such as this!!!

Ruminant Stomach Compartment Rumen Acts as a large fermentation vat Movement of the rumen mixes the contents of the stomach Stirs food up to more easily find large particles that need to be regurgitated and re-chewed Can be as big as a 50 gallon drum in a large cow!!! Has bacteria that aid in the digestion and fermentation of food.

Ruminants spend hours regurgitating and re-chewing their food Ruminants spend hours regurgitating and re-chewing their food. It’s like they are chewing gum. Have you ever noticed this?

Ruminant Stomach Compartment Reticulum May be considered an extra piece of the rumen Has a large honeycomb shape Site of hardware collection Hardware disease: Animal will ingest metal in the feed. It will collect here. Magnets can help keep it from going further; farmers will make cows swallow these magnets and they will remain in the reticulum for ever, preventing pieces of metal to travel the digestive system and kill them.

Have you ever had or heard of MENUDO? See the honeycomb shape of the tripe? It is Reticulum that you are eating… Hope I didn’t gross anyone out!

Ruminant Stomach Compartment Omasum (also known as “manyplies” – ply = layer, fold, strand) Primarily aids in the absorption of water Numerous folds help trap digestive particles to increase the time they stay in the omasum for water absorption

Ruminant Stomach Compartment Abomasum Considered the “true stomach” Site of chemical digestion Has the same functions of the monogastric stomach Hydrochloric acid and enzymes help with the breakdown of feedstuffs Glands that secrete mucus

Ruminant Stomach

Ruminant The small intestine, cecum, and large intestine have the same functions as in the monogastric digestive system

Modified Monogastric (Hind Gut Fermentors) Comprised of: Everything in the monogastric except: The cecum is much larger and plays an important role in the digestive process as it is modified Makes up %16 of horses total digestive anatomy

Modified Monogastric Cecum Acts as a large fermentation vat where large amounts of roughages can be broken down more easily Found in horses, elephants, guinea pigs and rabbits. “I have a really large cecum so that I can digest all my food properly!”