rumen
Cow's first stomach
The rumen is the first and largest of four stomach compartments in cattle, sheep, goats, and other ruminants.
This chamber functions as a fermentation vat where microorganisms break down plant material before the animal regurgitates it for further chewing—the process called rumination or "chewing the cud." The rumen allows these animals to extract nutrients from fibrous vegetation that other mammals cannot digest.
Rechewed stomach contents
- regurgitationEjecting swallowed material
- masticationTeeth-based food breakdown
- bolusChewed food mass
- rechewingMasticating a second time
saliva · chyme · absorption · degradation · hydrolysis · buffering
Short-chain carboxylic metabolites
- acetateVinegar-derived compound
- propionateSalt of three-carbon acid
- anaerobicNot requiring oxygen
- pHMeasure of solution acidity
ammonia · nitrogen · carbohydrates · cellulose · lignin · gas production · hydrogen · carbon dioxide
Net-shaped anatomical structure
- abomasumRuminant's acid-secreting stomach
- paunchProtruding abdomen
- foregutAnterior alimentary canal portion
- chamberEnclosed room or cavity
papillae · epithelium · mucosa · cardia · pillars · orifice · sphincter · villi
Nucleus-free single-celled organisms
- protozoaSingle-celled eukaryotic organisms
- fungiSpore-reproducing decomposers
- microfloraMicroscopic organisms inhabiting environments
- microorganismsMicroscopic living entities
Domesticated bovines kept commercially
- cowFemale bovine
- buffaloLarge North American bovine
- sheepWoolly farm animal
- goatHorned, bearded livestock
deer · giraffe · antelope · camel · llama · bison · yak · elk
Feeding on pasture
- forageSeek food actively
- pastureGrazing ground for livestock
- fodderCoarse livestock nourishment
- browseSurvey without intent
silage · hay · roughage · concentrate · grain · palatability · feedlot · supplement
cud
Rechewed stomach contents
- regurgitationEjecting swallowed material
- masticationTeeth-based food breakdown
- bolusChewed food mass
rechewing · saliva · chyme · absorption · degradation · hydrolysis · buffering
volatile fatty acids
Short-chain carboxylic metabolites
- acetateVinegar-derived compound
- propionateSalt of three-carbon acid
- anaerobicNot requiring oxygen
pH · ammonia · nitrogen · carbohydrates · cellulose · lignin · gas production · hydrogen · carbon dioxide
bloat
Swell abnormally
reticulum
Net-shaped anatomical structure
- abomasumRuminant's acid-secreting stomach
- paunchProtruding abdomen
- foregutAnterior alimentary canal portion
chamber · papillae · epithelium · mucosa · cardia · pillars · orifice · sphincter · villi
bacteria
Nucleus-free single-celled organisms
- protozoaSingle-celled eukaryotic organisms
- fungiSpore-reproducing decomposers
- microfloraMicroscopic organisms inhabiting environments
cattle
Domesticated bovines kept commercially
goat · deer · giraffe · antelope · camel · llama · bison · yak · elk · moose
grazing
Feeding on pasture
browse · silage · hay · roughage · concentrate · grain · palatability · feedlot · supplement · urea
- digestionstomach acid, swallowing, digesting, chewing, digestion
- Goatsgoat, doe, kid, buck, wether
- animal featuresbeaks, scales, antlers, fur, ears
- animal partsappendage, forelimb, hind leg, hind legs, hindlegs
- cattlecow, moo, cows, bull, bulls
- symbiosissymbiosis, mycorrhizae, symbiont, symbiotic, mutualism
rumenabomasum
Ruminant's acid-secreting stomach
hindgut · small intestine · cecum · reticulum
ruminate, rumination, ruminant, ruminating, ruminative, ruminants, ruminator, ruminations, ruminated