no edit summary
Line 1: Line 1: −
<big><center>[[Oesophagus - Anatomy & Physiology|'''BACK TO OESOPHAGUS''']]</center></big>
+
 
 +
Also known as: '''''Ingluvies'''''
    
==Introduction==
 
==Introduction==
   −
The crop is a food storage device present in avian species. It is usually used when the muscular stomach (gizzard) is full.
+
The crop is a food storage device present in avian species. It is usually used when the muscular stomach ([[Gizzard - Anatomy & Physiology|gizzard]]) is full. The crop also softens food.
 +
 
 +
It is a useful tool for avian veterinarians and owners for assessing if a bird has recently eaten and it is especially important to ensure young chicks always have full crops. It is also a common site for impactions, rupture and surgical entry to remove foreign bodies.
   −
It is useful tool for avian veterinarians and owners of assessing when the bird last ate and it is especially important to ensure young chicks always have full crops. It is also a common site for impactions and surgical entry to remove foreign bodies.  
+
==Structure and Function==
 +
[[Image:Crop of fowl.JPG|thumb|right|250px|Crop of fowl(Copyright RVC)]]
    +
The crop is a muscular chamber. It is a fusiform enlargement of the ventral wall of the [[Oesophagus - Anatomy & Physiology|oesophagus]] at the thoracic inlet. It bulges and lies against the breast muscles.
   −
==Functional Anatomy==
+
==Innervation==
   −
*Muscular chamber
+
The crop is innervated by the '''vagus nerve''' ([[Cranial Nerves - Anatomy & Physiology|CN X]]).
[[Image:Crop_Anatomy.jpg]]
      
==Species Differences==
 
==Species Differences==
   −
*No crop in
+
The crop is absent or vestigial in '''waterfowl''' (ducks, swans and geese) and '''owls''' and tends to be much larger and muscular in '''seed eating birds''' and '''carnivorous birds of prey'''. '''Pigeons''' have epithelial cells in their crop sensitive to prolactin which slough when chicks (squabs) hatch, producing crop milk.
 +
 
 +
==Links==
 +
 
 +
'''Click here for more information on the [[Oesophagus - Anatomy & Physiology]]'''
 +
 
 +
 
 +
{{Template:Learning
 +
|flashcards = [[The Avian Alimentary Tract - Anatomy & Physiology - Flashcards|Avian Alimentary Tract]]
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
==Webinars==
 +
<rss max="10" highlight="none">https://www.thewebinarvet.com/gastroenterology-and-nutrition/webinars/feed</rss>
   −
*Crop milk produced by pigeons for their squabs
+
[[Category:Avian Alimentary System - Anatomy & Physiology]]
 +
[[Category:A&P Done]]