{"content":{"sharePage":{"page":0,"digests":[{"id":"40293712","dateCreated":"1308274798","smartDate":"Jun 16, 2011","userCreated":{"username":"kelly.mccafferty","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/kelly.mccafferty","imageUrl":"https:\/\/ssl.wikicdn.com\/i\/user_none_lg.jpg"},"monitored":false,"locked":false,"links":{"self":"https:\/\/ansc231-summer2011.wikispaces.com\/share\/view\/40293712"},"dateDigested":1531983603,"startDate":null,"sharedType":"discussion","title":"Kelly McCafferty (Hindgut Fermenters) ","description":"Elephants- Large Intestine<br \/>\n\u2022    Cecum- The cecum of the elephant is the major site of fermentation.  It comes off of the junction of the ileum and the colon, or more commonly the blind pouch between the junction of the small and large intestine.  The cecum in the elephant is the place where vitamin B synthesis occurs and where insoluble carbohydrates are converted into volatile fatty acids.  I was unable to find exactly which enzymes and zymogens are found in the elephant large intestine but I\u2019m guessing they are fairly close to the ones we learned in class.<br \/>\n\u2022    Colon-The colon of the elephant contracts efficiently mixing the digested food while allowing the absorption of water, vitamins, nutrients, and salts that were processed through fermentation in the cecum.  It takes approximately 12 hours for passage of food to move through the digestive system and the colon of the elephant is between 20 and 22 feet long! <br \/>\n\u2022    Rectum- The rectum is where the rest of the material that is not efficient to the elephant\u2019s body is taken so it can be ejected out as feces.  About 50% of what is eaten leaves the body as feces because the elephant has inefficient digestion. <br \/>\nHorses- Small Intestine<br \/>\n\u2022    The small intestine of the horse is approximately 16 meters long and has a capacity of 50 liters! The inner lining of the small intestine consists of small finger-like projections called villi.  The purpose of the villi is to increase the surface area which overall increases nutrient absorption.<br \/>\n\u2022    Duodenum- The pH of the duodenum is 7.4 because of the secretion of bile salts.  These bile salts emulsify fats while neutralizing the acid secretions of the stomach.  Horses have no gall bladder; therefore bile seeps into the duodenum continuously.  Also, the pancreas releases digestive enzymes that help to digest the food.  One of the enzymes it releases is trypsin which digests proteins to peptides.  <br \/>\n\u2022    Jejunum- The jejunum and the beginning of the ileum is where most of the nutrients are absorbed in a horse.  <br \/>\n\u2022    Ileum- The ileum is where more nutrient absorption takes place.<br \/>\nRabbits- Pre Small Intestine <br \/>\n\u2022    Mouth- Rabbits have two pairs of incisors, three pre molars, and three molars.  These teeth grow continuously throughout their life ensuring the right grinding surface to breakdown their food.  The rabbits mouth consists of several ducts with salivary glands that secrete saliva to help lubricate and breakdown the food. <br \/>\n\u2022    Esophagus- The esophagus is a slender, muscular tube where the bolus of food passes from the mouth to the stomach. Rabbits are unable to regurgitate their food. <br \/>\n\u2022    Stomach- The stomach in a rabbit has thin walls and little power of contraction but is where the food starts to be mixed and churned to be digested.  Because the walls don\u2019t have enough power to push the food through the pylorus, it only contracts when there is pressure exerted from consuming more food.  This forces a rabbit to eat small meals continuously throughout the day.  Also, the walls of the stomach produce acidic fluids that contain enzymes to digest the food.  <br \/>\n<br \/>\nRats- Post Large Intestine<br \/>\n\u2022    Anus- The anus is to excrete the undigested waste that was made into feces.  Rat feces are up to \u00bd inch long and are spindle shaped and curved.  When fresh they are moist, shiny and dark.  When they are a few days old they are obviously dull, grayish, dry and hard.","replyPages":[{"page":0,"digests":[],"more":0}]}],"more":false},"comments":[]},"http":{"code":200,"status":"OK"},"redirectUrl":null,"javascript":null,"notices":{"warning":[],"error":[],"info":[],"success":[]}}