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==Introduction==

==Introduction==

The horse is a monagastric hindgut fermenter. The horse evolved for grazing and it does so for up to 17 hours a day. A high proportion of the horse's dietary carbohydrate is in the form of '''starch'''. A mature horse eats 2-2.5% of it's body weight in dry matter every day, 1.5-1.75% of this should be fibre (hay/haylage). This is to prevent a rapid drop in pH in the large intestine and also to stimulate peristalsis in the gut and prevent build up of gas.

The horse is a monagastric hindgut fermenter. The horse evolved for grazing and it does so for up to 17 hours a day. A high proportion of the horse's dietary carbohydrate is in the form of '''starch'''. A mature horse eats 2-2.5% of it's body weight in dry matter every day, 1.5-1.75% of this should be fibre (hay/haylage). This is to prevent a rapid drop in pH in the large intestine and also to stimulate peristalsis in the gut and prevent build up of gas.

[[Volatile Fatty Acids|VFA's]] produced include Acetate, Propionate and Butyrate. Factors that promote VFA production include an optimum pH of 6.5, an anaerobic environment and gut motility.

[[Volatile Fatty Acids|VFA's]] produced include Acetate, Propionate and Butyrate. Factors that promote VFA production include an optimum pH of 6.5, an anaerobic environment and gut motility.

==Liver==

==[[Liver - Anatomy & Physiology|Liver]]==

The liver is contained entirely within the rib cage, to the right of the midline. It is less lobated than in other species. The larger right lobe is undivided, and the left lobe subdivided. The caudate lobe is notched at the ventral free border. There is no papillary process. Horses have no [[Gall Bladder - Anatomy & Physiology|gall bladder]], and the hepatic ducts are relatively wide as a result. In the foal, the liver is larger and more symmetrical. The bile duct opens into the [[Duodenum - Anatomy & Physiology|duodenum]] at the same papillae as the major pancreatic duct. Bile is constantly secreted.

The liver is contained entirely within the rib cage, to the right of the midline. It is less lobated than in other species. The larger right lobe is undivided, and the left lobe subdivided. The caudate lobe is notched at the ventral free border. There is no papillary process. Horses have no [[Gall Bladder - Anatomy & Physiology|gall bladder]], and the hepatic ducts are relatively wide as a result. In the foal, the liver is larger and more symmetrical. The bile duct opens into the [[Duodenum - Anatomy & Physiology|duodenum]] at the same papillae as the major pancreatic duct. Bile is constantly secreted.

==Pancreas==

==[[Pancreas - Anatomy & Physiology|Pancreas]]==

The pancreas lies mainly on the right, in the very dorsal part of the abdomen. It is triangular in shape and lies within the sigmoid flexure of the [[Duodenum - Anatomy & Physiology|duodenum]]. The lobes are less distinguishable compared to the dog. The ventral surface is directly attached to the right dorsal [[Colon - Anatomy & Physiology|colon]] and base of the [[Caecum - Anatomy & Physiology|caecum]]. The dorsal surface is directly attached to the right kidney and [[Liver - Anatomy & Physiology|liver]]. The portal vein perforates the pancreas at the '''pancreatic ring'''. Both the pancreatic and accessory ducts persist throughout development. There is a constant secretion of pancreatic juice, which increases after feeding. This provides the caecum and colon with a constant supply of buffered solution, which maintains a stable environment important for microbe survival.

The pancreas lies mainly on the right, in the very dorsal part of the abdomen. It is triangular in shape and lies within the sigmoid flexure of the [[Duodenum - Anatomy & Physiology|duodenum]]. The lobes are less distinguishable compared to the dog. The ventral surface is directly attached to the right dorsal [[Colon - Anatomy & Physiology|colon]] and base of the [[Caecum - Anatomy & Physiology|caecum]]. The dorsal surface is directly attached to the right kidney and [[Liver - Anatomy & Physiology|liver]]. The portal vein perforates the pancreas at the '''pancreatic ring'''. Both the pancreatic and accessory ducts persist throughout development. There is a constant secretion of pancreatic juice, which increases after feeding. This provides the caecum and colon with a constant supply of buffered solution, which maintains a stable environment important for microbe survival.

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[[Category:Horse Anatomy]]

[[Category:Horse Anatomy]]