Download anatomical particularities of digestive system in kangaroo

ANATOMICAL PARTICULARITIES OF DIGESTIVE SYSTEM IN
KANGAROO (EASTERN GRAY KANGAROO)
Author: Adrian PLEŞA
Scientific coordinator: Florin STAN
University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, 3-5 Manastur St., 400372,
Cluj-Napoca, Romania; [email protected]
ABSTRACT
Mammal’s millennial evolution led to adaptive anatomical changes of each species.
Kangaroos are strictly herbivorous mammals. Oral cavity is characterized by the presence of
three sets of upper incisors, dentition being of polifiodont type. The slender, long esophagus
presents longitudinal folds on its internal surface. The large stomach (Gaster) is the main
component of digestive tract where microbial fermentation takes place. The stomach is divided
in two distinct segments: anterior and posterior. The great curvature (Curvatura ventriculi major)
has a notched pattern and the small curvature (Curvatura ventriculi minor) is relatively flat. The
first, anterior segment, more developed is composed from a small saccular segment, blind ended;
“S” shaped which is separated from the posterior segment by an obvious fold. The posterior
spiral segment has a storage function. External conformation is marked by the presence of three
muscular bands which delimit the correspondent haustra, giving the stomach “colon” like
appearance. Small intestine (Intestinum tenue) is relatively long compared to the colon which has
no haustra. The cecum (Caecum) is well defined. Even if the kangaroos share the same type of
digestion with the ruminants, major differences exist in morphology of anterior digestive tract.
(Stan 2013).
KEYWORDS:
Digestive system, kangaroo, anatomy
REFERENCES
Stan F. 2013, Comparative study of the stomach morphology in rabbit and chinchilla.
AgroLife Scientific Journal, Vol. 2 Issue 2, ISSN-L 2285-5718, 73-78.
NAV Nomina Anatomica Veterinaria, fifth edition, 2012.