Figure 144. Ruminant animals have four stomachs, including goats and cows. Prokaryotes and protists that
can digest cellulose fiber are found in the first two stomachs, the reticulum and rumen. The ruminant chews
its cud and regurgitates it into the omasum, its third stomach, where water is removed. The cud then travels to
the abomasum, the fourth stomach, where it is digested by the ruminant's own enzymes.
Pseudo-ruminants Pseudo-ruminants include some animals like camels and alpacas. They consume a lot of
vegetation and roughage. Because plant cell walls contain the polymeric sugar molecule cellulose,
digesting plant matter is difficult. These animals' digestive enzymes are unable to break down
cellulose, but the microorganisms in their digestive systems can. In order to break down the cellulose,
the digestive system must be able to handle large amounts of roughage. The digestive system of
pseudo-ruminants has a three-chamber stomach. The roughage is fermented and digested in their large
cecum, a pouched organ at the start of the large intestine that contains numerous microorganisms
required for plant material digestion. These animals have an omasum, abomasum, and reticulum
instead of a rumen
110
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Key definitions Digestive – possessing the ability to induce or facilitate digestion
Respiratory – the entry and exit of air or dissolved gases from the lungs
Diffusion – spreading out or spreading, especially by contact: the process of diffuse
Concentration – attention focused on a single thing
Alveoli – a tooth socket in the jaw
Trachea – the primary tube via which air travels to and from the lungs in vertebrates
