Which compartment is the true glandular stomach in a ruminant?

Which compartment is the true glandular stomach in a ruminant?

• A. Abomasum
• B. Rumen
• C. Omasum
• D. Reticulum

Answer: (A)

In a ruminant, the stomach has four compartments, and only one of them functions as the true glandular stomach. That part is the abomasum. It houses gastric glands in its mucosa, producing hydrochloric acid and digestive enzymes like pepsinogen, which allow chemical digestion of proteins much like a monogastric stomach. The other three compartments—rumen, reticulum, and omasum—are fermentation chambers. They lack gastric glands, rely on microbial digestion, and mainly handle mechanical processing and absorption of volatile fatty acids. Because they do not secrete gastric juice, they are considered non-glandular. So the abomasum is the glandular stomach in a ruminant.

In a ruminant, the stomach has four compartments, and only one of them functions as the true glandular stomach. That part is the abomasum. It houses gastric glands in its mucosa, producing hydrochloric acid and digestive enzymes like pepsinogen, which allow chemical digestion of proteins much like a monogastric stomach.

The other three compartments—rumen, reticulum, and omasum—are fermentation chambers. They lack gastric glands, rely on microbial digestion, and mainly handle mechanical processing and absorption of volatile fatty acids. Because they do not secrete gastric juice, they are considered non-glandular.

So the abomasum is the glandular stomach in a ruminant.