Avian Digestive Tract - Anatomy & Physiology

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Cockatiel - Copyright nabrown 2008

Introduction

Birds are endothermic vertebrates, many with a high core temperature of 41.3°C. The rapid heart rate (93-494 bpm)and respiratory rate (12-85) explain the fast metabolic rate of the avian species. This high basic metabolic rate influences the rate of drug absorbtion, metabolism and excretion and shoul be taken into account when anaesthetising these animals.

Food can move retrograde from the proventriculus to the crop. Food can also pass from the gizzard back into the proventriculus depending on particle size, which is similar to that in mammals. The egestion of bones occurs once the nutritious material has been ingested. During reflux, gastric motility is inhibited and the pellet is expelled through the mouth by oesophageal antiperistaltis. This cleans the crop out and checking the pellet of captive birds should be undertaken daily to assess health.

The avian ailimentary system differs immensely from the basic mammalian design.

Avian GIT Overview - Copyright Nottingham 2008
The Oral Cavity
The Tongue
The Hard Palate
The Oesophagus and Crop
The Proventriculus
The Gizzard
The Intestines
The Liver
The Vent and Cloaca