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Digestive System in Ruminents and Rodents
Digestive System in Ruminents and Rodents
Herbivores like ruminants and rodents feed on plants which contain a high
percentage of cellulose, a polysaccharide which is extremely insoluble. They
obtain most of their energy from the breakdown of cellulose of plant cell walls.
The enzyme cellulose is required to break down cellulose but is not produced by
these animals. They solve this problem by having digestive systems which are
specially adapted to carry out cellulose digestion.
Ruminants like cows and goats have stomachs which are divided into four
chambers, namely rumen, reticulum, omasum and abomasums. This adaptation
enables ruminants to carry out rumination, the process of regurgitating and
rechewing food. The firsts two chambers, the rumen and reticulum, are
specialised compartments which harbour large communities of bacteria and
protozoa. These microorganisms are able to produce cellulose that digests
cellulose.
In rodents like rabbits and rats, the caecum and appendix are enlarged to store
the cellulose-digesting bacteria. Unlike ruminants, the breakdown products pass
through the alimentary canal of rodents twice. The faeces in the first batch are
usually produced at night. These are then eaten again to enable the animals to
absorb the products of bacterial breakdown as they pass through the alimentary
canal for the second time. The second batch of faeces becomes drier and harder.
This adaptation allows rodents to recover the nutrients initially lost with the
faeces.
Nutrient absorption involves both diffusion and active transport. Initially, glucose,
amino acids, water-soluble vitamins and minerals diffuse into the epithelial cells
and are absorbed into the capillaries. Subsequently, the transport of the
remaining nutrients across the epithelial lining involves active transport during
which energy is used.
In contrast, glycerol and fatty acids enter the epithelial cells, where they
recombine to form tiny droplets of lipids, which then move into the lacteals. Fat-
soluble vitamins are also absorbed into the lacteals to be transported together
with lipids.
The lacteals converge into larger vessels of the lymphatic system. The fluid
carrying lipids and fat-soluble vitamins enters the lymphatic system which forms
a network throughout the body. The contents are then drained into the right
lymphatic duct and thoracic duct before being emptied into the bloodstream
through the subclavian veins.
Capillaries that drain water-soluble nutrients away from the villi converge into
the hepatic portal vein, which leads to the liver. From here, the nutrients are
transported to all cells in the body.
About 7 to 8 litres of water from drinks and from various digestive juices enter
the alimentary canal every day. Together with the small intestine, the colon
reabsorbs almost 90% of the water and minerals. In the colon, water and
minerals are reabsorbed into the cells lining the colon, and subsequently into the
bloodstream, so that we do not constantly lose them.