7-1

Chapter 7
The Digestive System
 7-2

 Digestion is the process in

which food is taken into the
body and broken down
mechanically and chemically
into small molecules
Introductio  These building blocks can
then be absorbed into the
n bloodstream and used for
cellular metabolism
 The remnants of non-
nutritious portions of the diet
are then eliminated from the
body
 7-3

BASIC STRUCTURES
Digestive
 Mouth or oral cavity is the
System beginning of the digestive tract
Structures  Lips, teeth, tongue, hard and
soft palates, and salivary glands
 Food passes through the
pharynx and into the esophagus
 Peristalsis, contractions of the
muscles in the esophageal wall
Carnivores, Herbivores, Omnivores
 Teeth and Jaw
structures are adapted
to what the animal
eats.

Carnivore Carnivores must be

able to capture prey
and tear the flesh from
the carcass.
Carnivores
 Herbivores
Adapted to biting off plant material and then grinding it into
smaller pieces
 7-9

SPECIALIZATION OF DENTITION
AND DIGESTIVE TRACTS

 The teeth of herbivores (plant

eaters) are adapted for their
diet
Species  Large flat molars and
Variation premolars are designed
specifically for grinding
 Mechanical processing is
necessary to allow further
digestion

Cont.
Herbivore skull
Omnivores
Teeth adapted for eating various
foods
Omnivo
re skull
 Tooth
structu
re
Digestion

Salivary glands in
the mouth aid in
digestion
4 major glands
produce saliva to
break down food in
the mouth
 7-15

 Food is swallowed
 Bolus passes through the
Monogastr esophagus into the
stomach through peristalsis
ic
 Stomach begins to contract
Digestion and secrete gastric juices
 Contractions of the
stomach mechanically
break down the ingested
food

Cont.
 7-16

 Interior of the stomach is a

harsh environment
 Low pH and the protein-
digesting enzymes (parietal
Monogast
cells- HCl)
ric
 Very little absorption occurs
Digestion
in the stomach
 The remaining partially
digested food, the chyme,
leaves the stomach through
the pyloric sphincter,
entering the duodenum
Monogast
ric
digestive
system
 Monogastric
system

The pancreas and liver both secrete digestive

enzymes that are necessary for the complete
digestion of chyme- go directly to the duodenum

Liver produces bile- stored in the gall bladder

Bile emulsifies fat and breaks it down into

smaller particles to be digested
 Liver
Helps maintain steady glucose levels- excess
glucose is extracted and stored as glycogen

Involved in protein and lipid metabolism-

converts ammonia to urea to be excreted by
the kidney
Stores certain vitamins and iron acting as a
reserve

Contain enzymes that are efficient in

breakdown of toxins and drugs
 7-20

 Food delivered to the small

intestine is primarily in the
form of short peptides
 Amino acids, sugars,
Monogastr
electrolytes, and water are
ic absorbed through the
Digestion mucosal cells
 The liver processes much of
the absorbed nutrients
before they enter the
systemic circulation

Cont.
 7-21

 The duodenum is essential

for further digestion
 Three hormones that
control digestion are
secreted by the duodenal
mucosa
 Secretin- hormone that maintains
water homeostasis

 Cholecystokinin (CCK)-
triggers gallbladder and pancreas to
contract- breakdown food for absorption

 Gastric inhibitory
peptide (GIP)- stimulates
insulin secretion in response to a meal

Cont.
 7-22

Monogastric Digestion

Main function of the

Defecation requires
large intestine is to
both voluntary and
absorb water and
involuntary muscular
electrolytes from the
contraction
feces
• Colon and rectum
contract
• Contraction of
abdominal
musculature
 7-23

Species Variation

• Horses are monogastrics, like dogs

and cats
• Very long cecum
• Cecum leads into the beginning of
the colon
• Colon divides into four regions
• Plant fiber is digested in the cecum
and colon in a process called
fermentation
Horse digestive system
 7-25

Species Variation

SYMBIOSIS AND ITS

SIGNIFICANCE
• Symbiosis is a close relationship
between two organisms that benefits
both organisms (bacteria in gut)
• Ruminants rely on symbiosis and
fermentation to digest plant
material
• Cattle, sheep, and goats are
ruminants
 7-26

 Generally said that

ruminants have four
stomachs
 Technically these are four
regions of one stomach
 These regions have
different functions
 Rumen (first stomach)
 Reticulum (second
stomach)
Species  Omasum (third stomach)
Variation  Abomasum (fourth
stomach)
 Occupies most of the left side of the abdomen of
a cow

 The rumen is split into a ventral and dorsal sac

 Regularly undergoes an organized contraction to

stir contents within it

 When performing a physical examination on a

cow, these contractions can easily be heard with
a stethoscope and are part of the exam. 2-3
contractions is normal
Rumen
 Only partially
separated from the
rumen
Reticulum
Has lining that
makes it look
honeycomb
One functional unit
that is the site of
fermentation
 Absorption of water,
nutrients, and
Omasu electrolytes

m
Lined with long, thin
sheets that divide the
stomach, preventing
large particles from
passing
 ‘true stomach’-
functionally the same
as a monogatric
stomach
Abomasu Contains acid and
m enzyme secretions

Digests all of the

materials that are not
bound in the
indigestible plant fiber
 7-31

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

• Vomiting
• Complex process
• Not always a direct result of
gastrointestinal disease
• Can be induced by several
mechanisms
• Receptors
• Inflammation or disease
• Balance center, or vestibular
system
 7-32

Clinical Practice

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE
• Diarrhea
• Feces pass through the intestinal tract too
quickly
• Large intestine
• Frequent defecation, in small amounts, and
with mucus, blood, or both
• Small-intestine
• Increased volume of very liquid feces
 7-33

Clinical Practice

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE
• Risk associated with a sudden
onset of vomiting and diarrhea
• Loss of water and electrolytes
• Dehydration often kills
animals
• Symptomatic treatment
 7-34

Clinical Practice

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE
• Animals can suffer from constipation
• Common cause of constipation in
dogs is feeding of bones
• Horses show signs of colic when they
have pain in the abdomen
• Intestinal spasms with diarrhea,
excess gas in the intestine, or severe
constipation
 7-35

CLINICAL
SIGNIFICANCE

 If for some reason

gas cannot be
eructated
(belched), a cow
develops bloat
 Large gaseous
distension of
the rumen
 Initially occurs
high on the left
side of the
abdomen
 Frothy bloat
 Free gas
 7-36

Summary
 A variety of dentition and digestive tracts
exists among differing species
 Swine, cats, and dogs are examples of
animals possessing monogastric or simple
stomachs
 Cattle, sheep, and goats are all ruminants,
which have multiple-compartment stomachs

 7-37

Summary

HORSES ARE MONOGASTRIC ANIMALS THE DIFFERENCES AMONG SPECIES

WITH A SPECIALIZED CECUM THAT CHALLENGE VETERINARIANS TO
ACCOMMODATES LARGE VOLUMES OF UNDERSTAND THE DISEASE CONDITIONS
FORAGES ASSOCIATED WITH EACH