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*For information on snake digestion, [[Snake Digestion|see here]].

The digestive system consists of the oral cavity, oesophagus, stomach, small intestine, [[Caecum - Anatomy & Physiology|caecum]] (some species), [[Colon - Anatomy & Physiology|colon]] and [[Cloaca|cloaca]].

[[Image:Open_mouth.jpg|200px|thumb|right|'''Sheathed tongue of a bullsnake''' - ©RVC and its licensors, Peer Zwart and Fredric Frye. All rights reserved]]

==Oral cavity==

==Oral cavity==

The mouth of a snake can open widely by the independent movement of the jaws to accommodate relatively [[Snake Feeding|large prey]].  The mucous salivary glands moisten the mouth, lubricate prey, aid digestion and excrete salt.  Venom glands that produce toxins to kill prey are modified salivary glands.  The sheathed tongue lies in a diverticulum on the floor of the mouth ventral to the glottis.  It functions for [[Snake Special Senses|vomeronasal chemoreception]] and plays no role in swallowing, during which is is retracted into the sheath.  Snakes that lose their tongues may not feed.  The surface epithelial layer or the snake's tongue is periodically [[Snake Shedding|shed]] intact and is often seen in the [[Snake Housing|water bowl]].  The oral mucosa of snakes is paler than that of mammals since the PCV may be about half to two thirds that of mammals.

The mouth of a snake can open widely by the independent movement of the jaws to accommodate relatively [[Snake Feeding|large prey]].  The mucous salivary glands moisten the mouth, lubricate prey, aid digestion and excrete salt.  Venom glands that produce toxins to kill prey are modified salivary glands.  The sheathed tongue lies in a diverticulum on the floor of the mouth ventral to the glottis.  It functions for [[Snake Special Senses|vomeronasal chemoreception]] and plays no role in swallowing, during which is is retracted into the sheath.  Snakes that lose their tongues may not feed.  The surface epithelial layer or the snake's tongue is periodically [[Snake Shedding|shed]] intact and is often seen in the [[Snake Housing|water bowl]].  The oral mucosa of snakes is paler than that of mammals since the PCV may be about half to two thirds that of mammals.

==Oesophagus, stomach and intestines==

==Oesophagus, stomach and intestines==

The oesophagus is distensible to accommodate relatively large prey (for a list of diets, see [[Snake Diet|snake feeding]].  The cranial oesophagus is thinly muscled.  At the level of the [[Snake Cardiovascular System|heart]], the oesophagus passes through the vascular ring formed by the left and right aortae.  It possesses longitudinal folds and is covered with a columnar ciliated epithelium.  The oesophagus terminates as the [[Snake Cardiovascular System|cardiac sphincter]].  The thick-walled, spindle-shaped stomach is muscular and distensible.  The small intestine is relatively uncoiled but has several short transverse loops tightly enveloped by dorsal mesentery.  It empties into the colon that may store faeces. The large intestine is relatively wide and is separated from the cloaca by a distinct fold.  A small caecum projects from the proximal colon in Boidae.

The oesophagus is distensible to accommodate relatively large prey (for a list of diets, see [[Snake Diet|snake feeding]].  The cranial oesophagus is thinly muscled.  At the level of the [[Snake Cardiovascular System|heart]], the oesophagus passes through the vascular ring formed by the left and right aortae.  It possesses longitudinal folds and is covered with a columnar ciliated epithelium.  The oesophagus terminates as the [[Snake Cardiovascular System|cardiac sphincter]].  The thick-walled, spindle-shaped stomach is muscular and distensible.  The small intestine is relatively uncoiled but has several short transverse loops tightly enveloped by dorsal mesentery.  It empties into the colon that may store faeces. The large intestine is relatively wide and is separated from the cloaca by a distinct fold.  A small caecum projects from the proximal colon in Boidae.

*Learn about excretion [[Lizard and Snake Excretion|here]].

* For information on snake digestion, [[Snake Digestion|see here]].

[[Image:Bumese_python_liver_+_seosa-sheath_+_fat_tissue2.jpg|200px|thumb|right|'''Liver and fat body of a [[Burmese Python|Burmese python]]''' - ©RVC and its licensors, Peer Zwart and Fredric Frye. All rights reserved]]

* Learn about excretion [[Lizard and Snake Excretion|here]].

==Liver, pancreas and gall bladder==

==Liver, pancreas and gall bladder==

The liver is elongate and is divided into several separate lobes. A characteristic of snakes is that there is a relatively long distance between the caudal tip of the liver and the gall bladder. Snakes have a well-developed gall bladder adjacent to the duodenum and caudal to the liver. Multiple bile ducts pass from the gall bladder, through the pancreas, into the duodenum. In most species, the gall bladder, pancreas and spleen are closely associated. In some snakes the pancreas may be fused with the spleen forming the splenopancreas.

The liver is elongate and is divided into several separate lobes. A characteristic of snakes is that there is a relatively long distance between the caudal tip of the liver and the gall bladder. Snakes have a well-developed gall bladder adjacent to the duodenum and caudal to the liver. Multiple bile ducts pass from the gall bladder, through the pancreas, into the duodenum. In most species, the gall bladder, pancreas and spleen are closely associated. In some snakes the pancreas may be fused with the spleen forming the splenopancreas.

==Cloaca==

==Cloaca==

The [[Cloaca|cloaca]] is divided into three parts. Cranial to caudal they are coprodeum, urodeum and proctodeum.  The coprodeum collects faeces from the colon. The urodeum, which is the midsection of the [[Cloaca|cloaca]], collects urinary waste and products of [[Snake Reproductive System|reproduction]]. The urogenital papilla is situated dorsally behind a small fold. The proctodeum is the reservoir for faecal and urinary waste before [[Lizard and Snake Excretion|excretion]] and contains the openings of the cloacal scent glands.

The [[Cloaca|cloaca]] is divided into three parts. Cranial to caudal they are coprodeum, urodeum and proctodeum.  The coprodeum collects faeces from the colon. The urodeum, which is the midsection of the [[Cloaca|cloaca]], collects urinary waste and products of [[Snake Reproductive System|reproduction]]. The urogenital papilla is situated dorsally behind a small fold. The proctodeum is the reservoir for faecal and urinary waste before [[Lizard and Snake Excretion|excretion]] and contains the openings of the cloacal scent glands.

[[Category:Snake_Anatomy]]

[[Category:Snake_Anatomy]]