Difference between revisions of "Rabbit Alimentary System"
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*Simple and large | *Simple and large | ||
| − | ==[[Small Intestine - Anatomy & Physiology|Small Intestine]] | + | ==[[Small Intestine - Anatomy & Physiology|Small Intestine]]== |
*Functions similar to other animals but there are anatomical differences. | *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 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. | *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]] | + | ==[[Large Intestine - Anatomy & Physiology|Large Intestine]]== |
===Caecum=== | ===Caecum=== | ||
Revision as of 15:41, 15 July 2008
Introduction
Rabbits are monogastric hindgut fermenters that eat a herbivorous diet.
Stomach
- Simple and large
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
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.