Anatomy of the Equine Intestinal Tract
Equine Intestinal Tract is divided into large sections based on its functionality. All these sections are the same in mammals. This includes the stomach, small intestine, large intestine, and small colon. Anatomy About Equine Intestinal Tract Stomach: The stomach is a large sac that condenses the feed which is ingested by horses. The acid present in the stomach helps to break down feed particles and an enzyme called pepsin starts protein digestion. Small and Large Intestine: True digestion starts in the small intestine that gets liquefied feed materials from the stomach with the pancreas secreted by enzymes into the small intestine. Small intestines are the primary site for digestion and absorption of sugar, starch, protein, and fat. Calcium, phosphorous, and fat-soluble vitamins such as A, D, E, and K are also absorbed by the small intestine. The next segment is the large intestine which starting with the cecum and ends with a descending colon. The large intestine acts like a large fe