Proventriculus - Anatomy & Physiology

BACK TO THE AVIAN DIGESTIVE TRACT - ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY

Introduction

The proventriculus is also referred to as the muscular stomach. It is connected by the isthmus to the gizzard.

Structure and Function

Proventriculus Anatomy - RVC 2008

• A storage organ in fish and flesh eating birds

• Appropriate to a soft diet

• Secretes digestive enzymes

• Contacts the left lobe of the liver ventrally and laterally

• Related dorso-caudally to the spleen

• More cranial than the gizzard

• Lies to the left of the midline of the bird

• Spindle/fusiform shaped

• Roughly 4cm long

• Lumen diameter similar to the oesophagus

• No oesophageal sphincter

Histology

Proventriculus Histology - Dr. Thomas Caceci and Dr. Ihab El-Zhogby, Department of Histology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Egypt

• Mucous cells

• Columnar epithelium

• Basolphilic

• Papillae- through which collecting ducts from glands run

• Lamina propria run into the papillae

• Hydrochloric acid and pepsin produced

• Glands in the submucosa

• Single tubular glands are grouped into lobules with a common opening into a papillae

• Serous membrane of mesothelial cells attached to the outer longitudinal layer of muscle

• 3 layers of lamina muscularis

• No parietal cells