Changes

==Introduction==

==Introduction==

Rabbits are monogastric hindgut fermenters that eat a herbivorous diet. [[Volatile Fatty Acids - Anatomy & Physioogy|VFAs]] are produced in the hindgut which are available to the animal for energy.

Rabbits are monogastric hindgut fermenters that eat a herbivorous diet. Microbes in the hindgut produce [[Volatile Fatty Acids - Anatomy & Physioogy|VFAs]] which are available to the animal for energy. Microbes also produce vitamins and protein, which are available only in minimal quantities as they are produced in the hindgut.

==[[Forestomach - Anatomy & Physiology|Stomach]]==

==[[Forestomach - Anatomy & Physiology|Stomach]]==

===Caecum===

===Caecum===

*Large, about twice the length of the abdominal cavity. Folded into four parts that flex upon each other.

*Large, about twice the length of the abdominal cavity and 10 times the capacity of the stomach, 40% of the entire alimentary tract.

*Folded into four parts that flex upon each other.

*Thin-walled.

*Thin-walled.

*Visible on the external surface is a spiral constriction that runs 20-30 times around the caecum. This is related to the folding of the mucosa internally.

*Visible on the external surface is a spiral constriction that runs 20-30 times around the caecum. This is related to the folding of the mucosa internally.

==Coprophagia==

==Coprophagia==

*Rabbits eat some of their faecal pellets, often produced in the early morning.

*Rabbits eat some of their faecal pellets, called '''caecotropes''', directly from the anus.

*Pellets that are eaten differ to normal pellets as they are softer, covered in mucus and smaller.

*Caecotropes differ to normal pellets as they are softer, covered in mucus and smaller.

*The purpose of this may be to gain access to the vitamins produced by bacteria in the caecum.

*The purpose of this may be to gain access to the vitamins produced by bacteria in the caecum.