The Digestive System of a Horse (Equus ferus caballus)
The Horses digestive system is very long, complex and slow because of microbial fermentation. Microbial fermentation allows the horse to digest highly fibrous food. The process of digestion starts at the mouth for the horse. The mouth includes teeth, lips and a tongue used for grabbing food as well as breaking it down. The horses saliva does not contain enzymes that help to break down the food. After chewing, the food goes through the esophagus. The esophagus is a 50 inch tube that transfers the food from the mouth to the stomach. Once in the stomach the food is mixed with acid secreted by the stomach. The different digestive juices secreted by the stomach are Hydrochloric acid, Mucus and Pepsin. After the stomach the food is passed to the small intestine. In the small intestine the food is digested and the absorbed. This is where most of the digestion takes place. After the small intestine come the large intestine. The large intestine makes up 60% of the horses digestive system. It is divided into the cecum, large colon, small colon and the rectum. The job of the small colon is water re-absorption and waste secretion. The last part of the digestive system is the cecum which contains large populations of microbial life that can break down cellulose into nutrients the horse can absorb. The cecum also plays an important role in temperature regulation. A by product of microbial fermentation is heat and it is used to regulate body temperature.
The Horses digestive system is very long, complex and slow because of microbial fermentation. Microbial fermentation allows the horse to digest highly fibrous food. The process of digestion starts at the mouth for the horse. The mouth includes teeth, lips and a tongue used for grabbing food as well as breaking it down. The horses saliva does not contain enzymes that help to break down the food. After chewing, the food goes through the esophagus. The esophagus is a 50 inch tube that transfers the food from the mouth to the stomach. Once in the stomach the food is mixed with acid secreted by the stomach. The different digestive juices secreted by the stomach are Hydrochloric acid, Mucus and Pepsin. After the stomach the food is passed to the small intestine. In the small intestine the food is digested and the absorbed. This is where most of the digestion takes place. After the small intestine come the large intestine. The large intestine makes up 60% of the horses digestive system. It is divided into the cecum, large colon, small colon and the rectum. The job of the small colon is water re-absorption and waste secretion. The last part of the digestive system is the cecum which contains large populations of microbial life that can break down cellulose into nutrients the horse can absorb. The cecum also plays an important role in temperature regulation. A by product of microbial fermentation is heat and it is used to regulate body temperature.