Animal Digestive

System
Learning Competencies
Animal Nutrition
Food uptake in cells.
 Variations in feeding
mechanisms and digestive
compartments in animals.
Nutritional requirements of
animals
 Digestion
• Digestion: Breaking down large, nutrient
macromolecules into simpler molecules for use
by an organism.

• Food enters the mouth and goes through

mechanical and chemical changes as it passes
through the alimentary canal.
Invertebrate feeding and digestion
• Invertebrates can either have intracellular or
extracellular digestion:
– Intracellular meaning that food is digested
within each individual cell of the organism.
• Examples: Sponges
– Extracellular means that digestion occurs
inside a digestive tract or cavity, then
absorbed into the body.
• Examples: mollusks, worms, arthropods, echinoderms
Section 29-2
Invertebrate Digestive Systems
Intestine
Gizzard
Crop
Mouth/anus Pharynx
Mouth
Gastrovascular
cavity Annelid

Anus
Gastrovascular
cavity
Cnidarian
Arthropod
Pharynx Crop

Anus
Pharynx
Mouth
Mouth/anus Stomach Rectum
Flatworm and Intestine
digestive glands
 Phylum Porifera: Sponges
 digestion is intracellular
 Phylum Porifera: Sponges

Nearly all sponges are suspension feeders,

collecting food particles from water passing
through food-trapping equipment.

Flagellated choanocytes, or collar cells, line

the spongocoel (internal water chambers)
create a flow of water through the sponge
with their flagella, and trap food with their
collars.
Phylum Porifera: Sponges
 Phylum Coelenterata or Cnidaria

The cnidarians (hydras, jellies, sea

anemones and coral animals)
 with a gastrovascular cavity (enteron)
which serves as an incomplete digestive
tube (a type of digestive tube with only one
opening which serves for both entrance and
exit; with a mouth but no anus.)
 Phylum Coelenterata or Cnidaria
 Digestion is both intracellular and
extracellular( type of digestion that takes
place outside the cell, usually within the
digestive cavity ).
a.Intracellular – smaller food particles are
absorbed into the vacuoles of the cells of
the gastrodermis.
 Phylum Coelenterata or Cnidaria
b. Extracellular – the glandular cells of the
gastrodermis secrete enzymes into the
gastrovascular cavity where digestion of
the larger particles takes place. The
digested food is then absorbed by the cells.

 a gastrovascular cavity with a single

opening serving as both mouth and anus.
• Cnidarians are carnivores that use tentacles
arranged in a ring around the mouth to capture
prey and push the food into the gastrovascular
chamber for digestion.
 Phylum Platyhelminthes

 has an incomplete, branched digestive

tube; an exception is the tapeworm which
has no digestive tract.
 digestion is extracellular (takes place
outside the cell or within the digestive
cavity).
How a tapeworm obtains its
nutrient?
• Live inside the small intestine of human
• Food in small intestine is already digested
Can be absorbed directly through the body wall
of tapeworm by diffusion
 Structural adaptations of
tapeworm
• Head bears hooks
and suckers
– To attach itself to
the intestine wall of
the host
Prevent being
egested by peristalsis
of intestine
 Structural adaptations of
tapeworm
• Long, flattened body
– To increase the surface area for more
absorption of digested food by diffusion
• Thin body wall
– To shorten the distance for faster diffusion
 Structural adaptations of
tapeworm
• Body covered by cuticle
– To protect itself from attack of digestive
enzymes from the host
• No mouth, digestive system
– No needed
• Hermaphrodite (bisexual)
– Need not find a mate for reproduction
 Phylum Annelida: segmented worms
 a typical example of an invertebrate with
a complete digestive tube.
 digestion is extracellular
Parts of the digestive tube of an earthworm
1. Mouth – the anterior opening which is
provided with prostomium or lips used
for grasping the food.
2. Buccal cavity
 Phylum Annelida: segmented worms

3. Pharynx – muscular structure which

facilitates sucking in of food.
4. Esophagus – with calciferous glands
which secrete calcium carbonate, making
the food alkaline
5. Crop – an expanded portion of the
esophagus which serve for temporary
storage of food.
 Phylum Annelida: segmented worms
6. Gizzard – a very muscular structure which
through its grinding motion reduces the food
into smaller bits.
- with bits of sand present in it that act as an
abrasive material (aids in cutting the food
into smaller bits).
7. Intestine – place where digestion of food
takes place; digestion is hastened by the
secretion of enzymes secreted by the intestinal
glands; absorption also takes place here.
 Phylum Annelida: segmented worms

Enzymes present
a.Amylopsin –acts on carbohydrates
b.Pepsin – acts on protein
c.Lipase – acts on fats
d. cellulase – acts on cellulose
8. Anus – the terminal opening of the
digestive tube that serves as an exit of
digestive waste products and residue, the
process of which is called egestion.
 Phylum Mollusca

 snails, slugs, oysters, clams, octopuses,

squids
 with a complete digestive tube and in
some the mouth is provided with horny
teeth that rasp off food particles.
 digestion takes place in the stomach.
 absorption takes place in the intestine
and residue exit through the anus.
Figure 33.16 Basic body plan of mollusks
 Phylum Arthropoda
 segmented coelomates with exoskeletons and
jointed appendages
 scorpions, ticks, spiders, most insects,
centipedes, millipedes, crabs, lobsters, shrimps,
barnacles, grasshopper
 with a complete digestive tube
 mouth parts are modified appendages and are
specialized for various purposes depending
upon the feeding habits of an animal ( chewing,
piercing, lapping, sucking, etc. )
 Phylum Echinodermata
 Sea urchins, Sea stars(starfish)
 with a complete digestive tube
(incomplete in some)
 the stomach is usually everted on the
food, mucus is secreted, then the stomach
with its contents is withdrawn into the
body.
 large bits are cast out through the mouth
 the intestine is mainly for excretion
Phylum Echinodermata
 Vertebrate Digestive Systems

• The digestive systems of many vertebrates have

organs that are well adapted for different feeding
habits.
• Carnivores, such as sharks have short digestive
tracts that produce fast-acting digestive enzymes.
• Herbivores have long intestines that have large
colonies of bacteria that help in digesting the
cellulose fibers in plant tissues.
 Section 33-3

The Digestive Systems of Vertebrates

Esophagus Shark Salamander Lizard Pigeon Cow

Stomach
Intestine
Liver
Gallbladder
Pancreas
Cloaca
Crop
Gizzard
Cecum
Rectum
 Types of Stomachs
• Simple Stomach
– Man, Pig
• Complex Stomach
– Cattle, Sheep, Goats
• Simple Stomach with enlarged ceacum
– Horses, Rabbits, Guinea Pigs
 Parts of Digestive Tract
• Mouth: initial opening of alimentary canal
– Salivary Glands
• secrete juices that contain enzymes to help break up
the food
– Mastication
• chewing, crushing, preparing food for swallowing
 Parts of Digestive Tract
• Pharynx: funnel shaped muscle between
mouth and esophagus
– part of digestive and respiratory tracts
• Esophagus: muscular tube connecting
pharnyx to stomach
– muscle contractions move food down to
stomach
 Parts of Digestive Tract
• Stomach: located between esophagus and
small intestine
– Two basics types
• Simple
• Ruminant
 Parts of Digestive Tract
Simple Stomach
• Humans, swine, rabbits and horses
– Divided into three regions
• cardiac
• fundus
• pylorus
 Simple Stomach
• Digestion:
– is mechanical, muscle contractions
– is chemical, enzymes soften and break down
macromolecules of food
• enzymes are catalysts, they start the chemical
reactions
 Simple Stomach
• Enzymes that break down food
– Gastric-break down proteins in stomach
– Liver and pancreatic-break down fats in small
intestine
– Intestinal-break down carbohydrates and
proteins in small intestine
 Digestion in the Ruminant
Stomach
• Rumination: The process of regurgitation,
re-mastication, re-salivation and re-
swallowing of food.
• Purpose: To smash and break up food
which provides more surface area bacteria
to break down
 Parts of Digestive Tract
• Small Intestine: long, coiled tube connecting
the stomach with the large intestine.
– Is covered by villi which increases surface area to
increase absorption
– Food moves through by muscle contractions
called peristaltic movement
– Final breakdown and absorption of nutrients
occurs here
 Parts of the Digestive Tract
• Large Intestine
– Includes cecum, colon and rectum
– Absorbs water
– Very little nutrient absorption takes place here
 The Digestion Process
• Food is broken down
• Animals have digestive systems adapted to the
foods that they consume
• Four types of digestive systems
– Ruminant(polygstric)
– Simple Stomach(monogastric)
– Avian
– Equine-modified simple stomach
Ruminant Digestive System

Modified to handle the breakdown of

large amounts of fiber
 Ruminant Digestive System
• Mouth
– no upper incisors, hard palate
– molars for grinding coarse vegetation
– saliva does not contain enzymes
• Esophagus
– muscular tube connecting the mouth to the
stomach
 Ruminant Digestive Systems
 the stomach of ruminants or cud mammals
(carabaos, cows and goats) consists of four
compartments:
(1)Rumen – compartment with a large cavity
containing water and bacteria which aid in
the fermentation of solid food (grass) which
is temporarily stored in it.
 Ruminant Digestive Systems
(2) Reticulum (honey comb) – the second
compartment where food is mixed and
turned into “ball-like” masses called bolus.
The bolus is regurgitated into the mouth
where it is rechewed and thoroughly mixed
with the saliva. It is then re-swallowed and
directed into the next compartment, the
omasum.
 Ruminant Digestive Systems
(3) Omasum (psalterium) – the third
compartment which contains longitudinal
folds that serve as strainers.
(4) Abomasum – the compartment which is
considered as the true stomach due to the
presence of gastric glands which secrete
gastric juices. Gastric digestion takes place in
this compartment.
 Ruminant Digestive Systems
Stomach (cont.)
• Regurgitation: first step in rumination
– large quantities of roughage are consumed and
are chewed just enough to swallow
– after swallowing, regurgitation (“cud chewing”)
takes place, food is re-chewed
 Ruminant Digestive System
• Small Intestine
– connects stomach to large intestine
– food nutrients absorbed into blood
– contains bile and pancreatic juices
– pushes food through by muscle contractions
 Ruminant Digestive System
• Large Intestine
– Contains Cecum, Colon and Rectum
• Cecum: sac at junction of small intestine and large
intestine
• Colon and rectum: at end of system
– not as long as small intestine, but larger in
diameter
– water and some nutrient absorption occurs here
– where residue solidifies before excretion
Monogastric Digestive System

Characterized by inability to digest

roughage efficiently
 Monogastric Digestive System
• Mouth
– has upper and lower incisors
– digestive enzymes secreted which breaks down
nutrients
• Esophagus
– connects mouth to stomach
 Monogastric Digestive System
• Stomach
– secretes Hydrochloric Acid to break down
nutrients
– enzymes such as pepsin also secreted here
– churning action mixes food
– small and large intestine
• function just as in ruminant systems
 Avian Digestive Systems

Characterized by several organs not

found in other species that are
adapted for grinding hard or encased
food
 Avian Digestive Systems
• Mouth
– no teeth which leads to the saying “scarce as a
hen’s teeth!!”
– Salivation excretion moistens food
• Esophagus
– has a modification called the “crop” which
stores and moistens food
– connects mouth and stomach
 Avian Digestive Systems
• Stomach
– Contains two parts
• Proventriculus: same as monogastric stomach and
provides digestive excretions; the true stomach
• Ventriculus or Gizzard: located after proventriculus,
very muscular, used to grind and mix food
 Avian Digestive Systems
• Small Intestine
– similar functions as in ruminants and monogastric
systems
• Large Intestine
– similar functions as in ruminants and monogastric
systems
– “cloaca”: chamber into which urinary and genital
canals open
– “ceca”: aids in fiber digestion and absorption
Equine Digestive Systems

Characterized by non-ruminant
animals that consume and digest
feeds high in fiber
 Equine Digestive Systems
• Mouth
– intact top and bottom incisors
– molars adapted to chewing fibrous feeds
– no digestive enzymes in saliva
• Esophagus
– not well adapted for regurgitation
– connects mouth and stomach
 Equine Digestive System
• Stomach
– similar to monogastric system
• Small intestine
– similar to monogastric and ruminant systems
– no gall bladder to store bile
– enlarged cecum to aid in fiber breakdown
 Equine Digestive System
• Large Intestine
– similar to monogastric systems
– cecum (at junction of small and large intestines)
and colon take up most of the volume of the
equine digestive system
 Accessory Organs

Organs that aid in the digestive

process without actually being part of
the digestive system
 Accessory Organs
• Pancreas
– produces and secretes digestive enzymes
– produces insulin which regulates carbohydrate
metabolism
• Liver
– produces bile-breaks down fatty acids
– stores iron, handles fats and carbohydrates in
the blood
The End!!