internal 1st year || Veterinary Anatomy || Page 3
Answers to S.V.P. University Veterinary Anatomy Exam Questions Q.5.A: How milk is bypassed in suckling calves directly from oesophagus to abomasum? This process is facilitated by a specialized anatomical structure called the oesophageal groove (or reticular groove). Mechanism: When a calf suckles, nervous reflexes (triggered by the act of sucking and the presence of liquid) cause the muscles of the oesophageal groove to contract and form a tube-like structure. Pathway: This tube creates a direct conduit from the lower esophagus, past the undeveloped rumen and reticulum, and directly into the omasum, which leads to the abomasum. Purpose: This bypasses the non-functional rumen, ensuring milk goes directly to the abomasum (the true stomach) where it can be digested with rennin and acid. This prevents milk from spoiling in the rumen, wh...