Poultry Digestive System Flashcards
It is where they pick up feed with. The salivary glands in this area secrete saliva which moistens the feed, but there’s limited enzymatic action happening here.
Beak/Mouth
A tube connecting the mouth to the crop. When birds swallow feed, it travels down to this area.
Esophagus (Gullet)
This is a special pouch-like structure in poultry that serves as a temporary storage for ingested feed. The crop allows the bird to eat a large amount of food quickly and then digest it over an extended period.
Crop
Often referred to as the “glandular stomach”, it’s first part of the bird’s stomach where hydrochloric acid and digestive enzymes are secreted to start breaking down food.
Proventriculus
Sometimes called the “muscular stomach”, it is a strong muscular organ that grinds and crushes the feed.
Gizzard (Ventriculus)
The primary site for digestion and nutrient absorption.
Small Intestine
Part of the SMALL INTESTINE that is the initial looped section where most digestion takes place.
Duodenum
Part of the SMALL INTESTINE that are responsible for the absorption of digested nutrients.
Jejunum and Ileum
Produces bile, which aids in fat digestion and absorption.
Liver
They have two of this at the junction where the small and large intestine meet. It is where fermentation by beneficial bacteria takes place, helping break down any remained undigested food, especially complex carbs.
Ceca (plural for cecum)
Relatively short in birds compared to mammals, this part further absorbs water and electrolytes from the remaining undigested food.
Large intestine
The terminal part of the digestive tract where both digestive and urinary wastes are expelled. In females, it’s also where eggs exit the body.
Cloaca.
The external opening of the cloaca through which waste is expelled.
Vent
