Digestive System

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Digestive System
Greater Omentum- This consists of a double layer of avascular peritoneum which connects to the stomach. Web-like structure; lift out of the way to expose other organs. It contains a large quantity of fat deposits and lies upon the abdominal organs. Lesser Omentum- lso consisting of a double layer of avascular peritoneum! the lesser omentum connects from the stomach to the duodenum to the liver. It contains lymphatic vessels! nerve fibers and bile ducts. Liver- The largest organ in a cat"s body! located in the front of the abdominal cavity! the liver filters blood and performs hundreds of other functions not found elsewhere in the body. This organ also helps digest food. The liver can also quickly recover from in#ury and reproduce tissue. Gall Bladder- The gall bladder holds bile until it is needed in the small intestine to digest food. The gall bladder is not essential in the process of digestion; it is #ust a place to hold bile.

Common Bile Duct- $ocated in the gall bladder! the common bile duct holds onto the greenish like material called bile. When the right hormonal signals are present! the gall bladder sends bile to the small intestine from this duct. Stomach- cat"s stomach is a sac-like structure designed to hold food and begin the digestive process. %n the interior surface of the stomach there are folds! called

gastric folds. These folds help to grind up and digest a cat"s food. The inner part of the stomach secretes acid and en&ymes to initially break down food. 'ost food will leave the stomach within twelve hours. Rugae- The rugae are the ridges of a cat"s stomach lining. It allows the stomach to stretch and expand in order to hold more food. Pancreas- $ocated in the upper abdominal cavity! the pancreas has a right and left lobe. The pancreas consists of cells arranged in small sections called lobules. These cells produce a number of digestive en&ymes and fluids. The pancreas also produces and secretes hormones that are important in the regulation of blood sugar. Spleen- The exact location is not specifically known because it all depends on its si&e and shape! but it is found near and around the left part of the abdomen. The spleen has quite a large number of blood vessels. The five main functions of the spleen are hematopoiesis! blood reservoir! blood filtration! phagosytosis and is the site of immune activities.

Mesentery- This is the curtain-like structure found at the top of the abdomen. It contains blood vessels that travel to and from the (astrointestinal Tract. The mesentery also contains lymph vessels the carry nutrients away from the

(astrointestinal Tract. Small Intestine (duodenum !e!unum ileum" - The small intestine finishes out the digestion process. The tiny hairs and blood vessels found within the small intestine carry away nutrients to the rest of the cat"s body. The process of absorption begins in the duodenum but is mainly found within the largest section of the small intestine! the #e#unum. )inally the absorption process ends in the ileum.

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