What is the true stomach called in the ruminant?

What is the true stomach called in the ruminant?

• A. Rumen
• B. Reticulum
• C. Omasum
• D. Abomasum

Answer: (D)

In ruminants, the stomach has four compartments, with the first three serving mainly for fermentation and mechanical processing. The true stomach is the abomasum because it contains gastric glands that secrete acid and enzymes, just like a monogastric stomach. This is where enzymatic digestion of proteins begins (with pepsin and HCl) before the feed moves on to the small intestine. The other compartments (rumen, reticulum, and omasum) handle fermentation, particle reduction, and water/electrolyte absorption, not the acid-pepsin digestion that characterizes a true stomach.

In ruminants, the stomach has four compartments, with the first three serving mainly for fermentation and mechanical processing. The true stomach is the abomasum because it contains gastric glands that secrete acid and enzymes, just like a monogastric stomach. This is where enzymatic digestion of proteins begins (with pepsin and HCl) before the feed moves on to the small intestine. The other compartments (rumen, reticulum, and omasum) handle fermentation, particle reduction, and water/electrolyte absorption, not the acid-pepsin digestion that characterizes a true stomach.