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Hindgut Fermenters - Anatomy & Physiology (view source)
Revision as of 10:21, 15 July 2008
, 10:21, 15 July 2008→Introduction
Hindgut fermenters evolved to eat a herbivorous diet. Such a diet includes large quantities of insoluble plant carbohydrates, such as cellulose. Mammals cannot digest these insoluble carbohydrates as they lack the essential enzymes, such as cellulase. However it is important that they do digest these carbohydrates as there is insufficient quantity of soluble carbohydrates in plant material. Some microbes do have the enzymes to digest these insoluble carbohydrates and so hindgut fermenters hold a symbiotic relationship with these microbes. Hindgut fermenters have anatomical adaptations to allow for an expanded microbial population.
Hindgut fermenters evolved to eat a herbivorous diet. Such a diet includes large quantities of insoluble plant carbohydrates, such as cellulose. Mammals cannot digest these insoluble carbohydrates as they lack the essential enzymes, such as cellulase. However it is important that they do digest these carbohydrates as there is insufficient quantity of soluble carbohydrates in plant material. Some microbes do have the enzymes to digest these insoluble carbohydrates and so hindgut fermenters hold a symbiotic relationship with these microbes. Hindgut fermenters have anatomical adaptations to allow for an expanded microbial population.
It is important to supply a source of fibre in their diet as it stimulates peristalsis in the gut and prevents a build up of gas.
It is important to supply a source of fibre in their diet as it stimulates peristalsis in the gut and prevents a build up of gas.
==Cellulose Structure==
[[Image:cellulose.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Cellulose - Copywright RVC 2008]]
Cellulose exists in the cell walls of plants. Mammals are unable to digest cellulose due it's structure. Cellulose is a polymer of glucose where each glucose monomer is joined to the next by a β-1,4 glycosidic bond. Mammalian enzymes only have the capability to break α-1,4 glycosidic bonds, which are seen in starch and glycogen.
::[[Hindgut Fermenters - Horse - Anatomy & Physiology|Horse]]
::[[Hindgut Fermenters - Horse - Anatomy & Physiology|Horse]]
::[[Hindgut Fermenters - Rabbit - Anatomy & Physiology|Rabbit]]
::[[Hindgut Fermenters - Rabbit - Anatomy & Physiology|Rabbit]]
::[[Hindgut Fermenters - Elephant - Anatomy & Physiology|Elephant]]
::[[Hindgut Fermenters - Elephant - Anatomy & Physiology|Elephant]]