Avian+-+Parakeet

=Avian - Parakeet=

Pre-Small Intestine (Group 1 - Whitney B)
The pre-small intestine includes the beak used as the prehension (one word) . Without teeth, they are unable to chew their food, so glands secrete saliva to help them swallow their feed. The saliva contains an enzyme- amylase to help start breaking down the food. They then tip their heads upward and use their small wood-like tongues to drop/ push food through their esophagus into their crop which is temporarily used for storage of eaten food. This crop moistens the food and makes its way to the proventriculus (Equivalent to the humans true stomach) where Hydro Chloric (one word - hydrochloric)  Acid(HCl) helps break down protiens, creates low pH to help enzymes and increase efficiency, kill pathogenic bacteria to help it work more efficiently.Pepsin is a protease that helps break down dietary proteins such as polypeptides and peptides. Mucus forms a protective lining against HCL(which is already in your stomach). Eventually the food moves to the gizzard which has muscular and thick wall and lining that traps grit or small stones that help decrease particle size and increases food surface area.

Large Intestine (Group 1 -Kim C)
Large Intestine- main function is to absorb water and electrolytes.


 * 2 Ceca**- Microbial digestion of fermentable CHO. Two blind pouches located where the small and large intestines join. If there is water still in the fecal material it can be absorbed here. The fermentation of material is very important part of the ceca. This creates fatty acids and B vitamins like thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, pyridoxine, biotin, folic acid and vitamin B12. Very few nutrients that are absorbed can be used.--what does this mean? If a nutrient is absorbed, it can be used. If it's not digested, it can't be used.
 * Cloaca**- (same as rectum) Is an opening for digestive, urinary, and reproductive tract. Digestive wastes mix together with waste from the urinary tract called urates. The reproductive tract also comes through this area, but when an egg is ready to be laid the vagina folds over allowing the egg to leave but not the feces or urine .--that's pretty cool :)

Post Large Intestine (Group 1 - Courtney A)
After the large intestine in the digestive tract comes the cloaca which is where the waste is collected before it is expelled through the vent.