AP BIOLOGY

ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY

DIGESTION IN HUMANS

Question [CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
When ruminants “chew the cud", they are
A
regurgitating food to chew it again
B
belching to release gas from fermenting food
C
passing gas!
D
regurgitating food they don’t want
Explanation: 

Detailed explanation-1: -In ruminants with a four-chambered stomach, ingested plant material is stored in the first chamber, called the rumen, where it softens. They later regurgitate this material, called cud, and chew it again to further break down its cellulose content, which is difficult to digest.

Detailed explanation-2: -Combined, the rumen and reticulum of an adult dairy cow can hold around 50 gallons of partially digested feed. During rumination, the cud (partially digested feed) is regurgitated, re-chewed, and re-swallowed.

Detailed explanation-3: -This is true, but cows are able to voluntarily “un-swallow” their food. This process of swallowing, “un-swallowing”, re-chewing, and re-swallowing is called “rumination, ” or more commonly, “chewing the cud.” Rumination enables cows to chew grass more completely, which improves digestion.

Detailed explanation-4: -On high-forage diets ruminants often ruminate or regurgitate ingested forage. This allows them to “chew their cud” to reduce particle size and improve digestibility.

Detailed explanation-5: -Organisms like cows and buffaloes swallow food fast and store it in their stomach. Later on, they bring this food (cud) back to their mouth and chew it again. This process of chewing cud is called rumination and these animals are called ruminants.

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