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<big><center>[[Alimentary - Anatomy & Physiology|'''BACK TO ALIMENTARY - ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY''']]</center></big>
<big><center>[[Alimentary - Anatomy & Physiology|'''BACK TO ALIMENTARY - ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY''']]</center></big>
<big><center>[[Hindgut Fermenters - Anatomy & Physiology|'''BACK TO HINDGUT FERMENTERS - ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY''']]</center></big>
<big><center>[[Hindgut Fermenters - Anatomy & Physiology|'''BACK TO HINDGUT FERMENTERS - ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY''']]</center></big>
==Introduction==
Rabbits are monogastric hindgut fermenters that eat a herbivorous diet.
==[[Stomach - Anatomy & Physiology|Stomach]]==
*Simple and large
==[[Small Intestine - Anatomy & Physiology|Small Intestine]]
*Functions similar to other animals but there are anatomical differences.
*The caudal flexure of the duodenum is long and coiled, and may be referred to as the transverse part of the duodenum.
*The sacculus rotundus exists at the ileocaecal junction. It is an enlargement of the large intestine and contains lymphoid tissue.
==[[Large Intestine - Anatomy & Physiology|Large Intestine]]
===Caecum===
*Large, about twice the length of the abdominal cavity. Folded into four parts that flex upon each other.
*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.
*There is an appendix at it's distal end containing lymphoid tissue.
===Colon===
*Has ascending, transverse and descending parts.
*The '''ascending colon''' is very long and occupies most of the ventral abdomen.
*First part has taenia and haustra, the second part does not and is arranged into coils that lie in the dorsal part of the abdominal cavity.
*The '''transverse''' and '''descending''' colons have the same anatomical arrangement as in other species.
==Coprophagia==
*Rabbits eat some of their faecal pellets, often produced in the early morning.
*Pellets that are eaten 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.