The Avian Digestive System

By
Gemma Dalena
Overview of Information Presented:
 The Avian Digestive System
 Parts of the Avian Digestive System
 Esophagus
 Stomach
 Small Intestine
 Large Intestine
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Information Guide

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 Under the California Agriculture Core Curriculum Animal Science

 Animal Physiology –(CLF3201) The Digestive Process

The Avian Digestive System

 This digestive system is adapted for grinding hard or

encased (shells of seeds) food.
Parts of the Avian Digestive System

 The Mouth
 Saliva is secreted
to moisten food
and aid in
swallowing since
avian species do
not have teeth.
The Esophagus
 The Esophagus connects the mouth to the stomach.

Esophagus
The Esophagus
 has a modification which is called the "crop" where
food is stored and further moistened
Crop
The Avian Stomach
Consists of Two Parts:
The Avian Stomach
Consists of two parts.
1.The "proventriculus" which provides digestive secretions.

Proventriculus
The Avian Stomach
2. The "gizzard" which is located after the proventriculus, it is very
muscular and is used for grinding food.

Gizzard
The Small Intestine
 The small intestine varies in length depending on the diet. It is longer in herbivores (plant
eating birds) and shorter in carnivores (flesh eating birds).

Part of the
small intestine

Parts of the
small intestine
The Small Intestine
 The functions of the small intestine
are similar to the small intestine of
ruminants and monogastrics
The Large Intestine

 The functions of the large intestine are similar to the

small intestine of ruminants and monogastrics.
The Large Intestine
 The "cloaca" which, is located at the terminal end of the large
intestine is a chamber into which the urinary and genital canals
open.
Large Intestine

cloaca
The Large Intestine

 At the junction of the small and large intestine is

where the two "ceca" pouches are located.
 The Large Intestine
 The two ceca pouches further contribute to aiding in fiber
digestion and absorption.

Ceca Pouch Ceca Pouch