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| + | ==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. |
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| ==Oral Cavity== | | ==Oral Cavity== |
| ===[[Teeth - Anatomy & Physiology|Teeth]]=== | | ===[[Teeth - Anatomy & Physiology|Teeth]]=== |
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| The stomach is relatively small (10% GIT) and its capacity is 8-16 litres. The equine stomach is rarely empty, retention time is short and expulsion into the [[Duodenum - Anatomy & Physiology|duodenum]] stops when feeding stops. Although fluid exits quickly, feed particles can be retained for more than 48 hours as digestion is initiated in the stomach. A 500kg horse can produce 30 litres of gastric juice in 24 hours. The strong '''cardiac sphincter''' allows movement of gas and fluid into the stomach, but not out of it. This prevents the animal from [[Vomiting|vomiting]]. Therefore, any disorder that results in aboral fluid movement from the small intestine results in fluid accumulation in the stomach (gastric reflux), [[Gastric Dilation and Rupture - Horse|dilation and eventually gastric rupture]] if left untreated. | | The stomach is relatively small (10% GIT) and its capacity is 8-16 litres. The equine stomach is rarely empty, retention time is short and expulsion into the [[Duodenum - Anatomy & Physiology|duodenum]] stops when feeding stops. Although fluid exits quickly, feed particles can be retained for more than 48 hours as digestion is initiated in the stomach. A 500kg horse can produce 30 litres of gastric juice in 24 hours. The strong '''cardiac sphincter''' allows movement of gas and fluid into the stomach, but not out of it. This prevents the animal from [[Vomiting|vomiting]]. Therefore, any disorder that results in aboral fluid movement from the small intestine results in fluid accumulation in the stomach (gastric reflux), [[Gastric Dilation and Rupture - Horse|dilation and eventually gastric rupture]] if left untreated. |
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− | ==Small Intestine== | + | ==[[Small Intestine Overview - Anatomy & Physiology|Small Intestine]]== |
| ===Duodenum=== | | ===Duodenum=== |
| [[Image:Section of duodenum from horse.JPG|thumb|right|250px|Section of equine duodenum- © RVC 2008]] | | [[Image:Section of duodenum from horse.JPG|thumb|right|250px|Section of equine duodenum- © RVC 2008]] |
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| medial aspect. The ileal mesentery attaches to the [[Caecum - Anatomy & Physiology|caecum]] at the dorsal caecal band. | | medial aspect. The ileal mesentery attaches to the [[Caecum - Anatomy & Physiology|caecum]] at the dorsal caecal band. |
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− | ==Large Intestine== | + | ==[[Large Intestine Overview - Anatomy & Physiology|Large Intestine]]== |
− | ===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.
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| Undigested material spends a long time in the [[Caecum - Anatomy & Physiology|caecum]] and [[Large Intestine - Anatomy & Physiology|large intestine]] being digested by microbial fermentation, mainly cellulose (95% after 65 hours). | | Undigested material spends a long time in the [[Caecum - Anatomy & Physiology|caecum]] and [[Large Intestine - Anatomy & Physiology|large intestine]] being digested by microbial fermentation, mainly cellulose (95% after 65 hours). |
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| The ileum opens into the caecum at the '''ileal papilla'''. This is a small projection into the caecum housing the ileal sphincter and venous plexus that, together, control the ileal orifice. | | The ileum opens into the caecum at the '''ileal papilla'''. This is a small projection into the caecum housing the ileal sphincter and venous plexus that, together, control the ileal orifice. |
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− | '''Taenia''' are present. Taenia are formed by concentration of the ''longitudinal'' muscle layer. Between the taenia are sacculations, or '''haustra'''. Haustra appear as folds on the interior surface. There are '''four''' taenia over the [[Caecum - Anatomy & Physiology|caecum]]; dorsal, ventral, lateral and medial. The '''dorsal''' taenia provides the attachment site for the ileocaecal fold, which joins the caecum to the [[Ileum - Anatomy & Physiology|ileum]]. | + | '''Taeniae''' are present. Taeniae are formed by concentration of the ''longitudinal'' muscle layer. Between the taeniae are sacculations, or '''haustra'''. Haustra appear as folds on the interior surface. There are '''four''' taeniae over the [[Caecum - Anatomy & Physiology|caecum]]; dorsal, ventral, lateral and medial. The '''dorsal''' taenia provides the attachment site for the ileocaecal fold, which joins the caecum to the [[Ileum - Anatomy & Physiology|ileum]]. |
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| The '''lateral''' taenia provides the attachment site for the caecocolic fold, which joins the caecum to the ascending [[Colon - Anatomy & Physiology|colon]]. The '''ventral''' taenia is free. | | The '''lateral''' taenia provides the attachment site for the caecocolic fold, which joins the caecum to the ascending [[Colon - Anatomy & Physiology|colon]]. The '''ventral''' taenia is free. |
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− | The '''medial''' and '''lateral''' taenia are where the caecal vessels and [[Lymph Nodes - Anatomy & Physiology|lymph nodes]] are located. Ingesta is regularly transported from the [[Ileum - Anatomy & Physiology|ileum]] to the [[Caecum - Anatomy & Physiology|caecum]], this movement can be heard upon auscultation of the right dorsal quadrant of the caudal abdomen. | + | The '''medial''' and '''lateral''' taeniae are where the caecal vessels and [[Lymph Nodes - Anatomy & Physiology|lymph nodes]] are located. Ingesta is regularly transported from the [[Ileum - Anatomy & Physiology|ileum]] to the [[Caecum - Anatomy & Physiology|caecum]], this movement can be heard upon auscultation of the right dorsal quadrant of the caudal abdomen. |
− | Ausculatation of this area is carried out in the assesment of colic. In the horse, the [[Caecum - Anatomy & Physiology|caecum]] is responsible for the digestion of complex carbohydrates such as cellulose. | + | [[Colic Diagnosis - Abdominal Auscultation|Ausculatation of this area]] is carried out in the assessment of [[:Category:Colic in Horses|colic]]. In the horse, the [[Caecum - Anatomy & Physiology|caecum]] is responsible for the digestion of complex carbohydrates such as cellulose. |
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| ===[[Colon - Anatomy & Physiology|Colon]]=== | | ===[[Colon - Anatomy & Physiology|Colon]]=== |