FOURTH STOMACH Meaning and
Definition
-
The fourth stomach, also known as the abomasum, is a specialized compartment found in the digestive system of ruminant animals. It is located just after the reticulum and rumen in the sequence of the four-chambered stomach. While the previous compartments of the stomach, such as the rumen, reticulum, and omasum, mainly aid in fermentation and initial digestion of plant material, the fourth stomach is responsible for finalizing the digestion process.
The fourth stomach is structured similar to a monogastric stomach, like those in non-ruminant animals, such as humans. However, its role is unique in ruminants as it acts as the true stomach for these animals. In the fourth stomach, food is mixed with powerful enzymes and gastric juices secreted by the stomach lining. This contributes to the breakdown of proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates present in the partially digested food.
The abomasum possesses muscular walls that contract rhythmically to further enhance the mechanical digestion process. It also propels the broken-down food into the small intestine, where absorption takes place. By the time food reaches the fourth stomach, it has undergone microbial fermentation to a considerable extent, and the abomasum works towards the breakdown of molecules to absorbable forms.
Overall, the fourth stomach plays a pivotal role in the digestive process of ruminants, enabling them to extract as many nutrients as possible from their plant-based diet.
Common Misspellings for FOURTH STOMACH
- dourth stomach
- courth stomach
- vourth stomach
- gourth stomach
- tourth stomach
- rourth stomach
- fiurth stomach
- fkurth stomach
- flurth stomach
- fpurth stomach
- f0urth stomach
- f9urth stomach
- foyrth stomach
- fohrth stomach
- fojrth stomach
- foirth stomach
- fo8rth stomach
- fo7rth stomach
- foueth stomach
Etymology of FOURTH STOMACH
The term "fourth stomach" is derived from the Latin word "abomasus", which has the same meaning. "Abomasus" is a Latinized version of the Greek word "ábomasos", consisting of "a", meaning "not", and "bomasos", meaning "the paunch or rumen". The word originally referred to the fourth and final chamber of the stomach in ruminant animals, such as cows and sheep, where the actual digestion of food takes place. Over time, "abomasus" or "fourth stomach" became the commonly used term to describe this specific part of the ruminant animal's digestive system.
Similar spelling words for FOURTH STOMACH
Infographic
Add the infographic to your website:
