Ruminants - Rumen Physiology - Control of reticulorumen motility

5 important questions on Ruminants - Rumen Physiology - Control of reticulorumen motility

What is the function of reticulorumen motility?

1. Mixing of food for better fermentation/absorption
2. Presentation of food for regurgitation
3. Promotion of eructation of gases
4. Moving of indigestible food out of reticulorumen

What are the steps of reticulorumen motility?

1. Bolus enters dorsal reticulum
2. Reticular contractions break up bolus and force it into rumen
3. Caudal contraction of dorsal rumen moves bolus caudally, forward contraction breaks up bolus further
4. Bacteria create gas bubbles and keep bolus buoyant
5. Bacterial digestion of ingesta breaks up bolus, bolus sinks as gas bubbles are lost
6. Ventral sac contractions caue smallest, densest particles to go to cranial ventral sac. Larger particles rise into dorsal sac again
7. Cranial ventral sac contracts and pushest smallest, densest particles into reticulum
8. Reticular contraction sends densest particles to omasum through reticulo-omasal orifice

What are the zones of the internal rumen?

Gases: gas bubbles produced by bacteria
Solid zone: most recent ingesta, least fermented
Slurry zone: moderately fermented
Liquid zone: mostly fermented, water, 1-2d old
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What stimulates reticuloruminal motility?

CNS (Vagus, afferent and efferent) via stretch (moderate) and consistency of ingesta (large rumen mat)

What inhibits reticuloruminal motility?

CNS (Vagus, afferent and efferent) via stretch (excessive) and consistency of ingesta (pH below 5, elevated VFA and osmolality)

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