Animal Nutrition: Digestion and Metabolism

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts discussed in the lecture notes on animal digestion and metabolism.

Mastication

The process of chewing food.

Deglutition

The process of swallowing.

Rumen

A specialized compartment in ruminant animals where fermentation of feed occurs.

Glandular stomach

The part of the stomach that secretes acids and enzymes for digestion.

Pancreas

An organ that secretes digestive enzymes and hormones.

Liver

An organ that processes nutrients, detoxifies substances, and produces bile.

Small intestine

The primary site of nutrient absorption in the digestive system.

Colon

The large intestine, responsible for water and electrolyte absorption and waste storage.

Cecum

A pouch connected to the junction of the small and large intestines, important for fermentation in some animals.

Enzymes

Biological catalysts (proteins) that speed up chemical reactions in digestion.

Salivary amylase (ptyalin)

An enzyme in saliva that breaks down starch into maltose.

Urea

A nitrogen source provided in ruminant saliva for rumen microbes to make amino acids.

Pepsin

An enzyme in the stomach that digests proteins into polypeptides.

Chymotrypsin (rennin)

A protease enzyme in young animals for protein digestion.

Lipase

An enzyme that breaks down fats into fatty acids and glycerol.

Intrinsic factor (B12)

A substance produced in the stomach that aids in the absorption of vitamin B12.

Trypsin

A pancreatic protease enzyme involved in breaking down proteins.

Chymotrypsin

A pancreatic protease enzyme involved in breaking down proteins.

Carboxypeptidase

A pancreatic protease enzyme involved in breaking down proteins.

Bile salts

Emulsifiers produced in the liver that aid in solubilizing fats for better digestion and absorption.

Micelles

Small aggregates of bile salts and lipids that facilitate lipid absorption.

Cholecystokinin

A hormone that stimulates the contraction of the gall bladder when the stomach is filled.

Aminopeptidase

An enzyme in the small intestine that further breaks down peptides.

Dipeptidase

An enzyme in the small intestine that further breaks down peptides.

Nucleases

Enzymes that break down DNA and RNA.

Maltase

An enzyme that breaks down maltose into glucose.

Lactase

An enzyme that breaks down lactose into glucose and galactose.

Sucrase

An enzyme that breaks down sucrose into glucose and fructose.

Enterocytes

Intestinal cells that absorb small nutrient molecules.

Microvilli

Small projections on the surface of enterocytes that increase surface area for absorption.

Portal vein

The vein that transports nutrients from the small intestine to the liver.

Chylomicrons

Particles formed in enterocytes that transport triglycerides into the lymphatic system.

Ileum

The terminal part of the small intestine where bile salts are reabsorbed.

Colostrum

The first milk produced by mammals after giving birth, rich in antibodies.

Portal circulation

The circulation of blood from the gastrointestinal tract to the liver.

Hindgut fermenters

Animals that ferment feed in the cecum and colon.

Volatile (short-chain) fatty acids

Fatty acids produced by the fermentation of cellulose.

Acetate

A volatile fatty acid produced during fermentation.

Propionate

A volatile fatty acid produced during fermentation.

Butyrate

A volatile fatty acid produced during fermentation.

Lactate

A volatile fatty acid produced during fermentation.

Foregut Fermenters

Animals that ferment feed in the rumen.

Omasum

Compartment in the ruminant digestive system responsible for water absorption.

Abomasum

The true stomach in ruminants, similar to the stomach in monogastric animals.

Cellulolytic bacteria

Bacteria that break down cellulose.

Hemicellulolytic bacteria

Bacteria that break down hemicellulose.

Amylolytic bacteria

Bacteria that break down starches and sugars.

Protozoa

Microorganisms in the rumen that consume bacteria and starch, slowing fermentation.

Fungi

Microorganisms in the rumen that breakdown plant cuticles.

Degradable protein (RDP/DIP*)

Protein that is broken down to amino acids by proteolytic bacteria.

Undegradable protein (UDP/UIP*)

Protein that passes to the abomasum.

Microbial protein(MCP/BCP*)

Amino acids, Urea (saliva), Ammonia (rumen) fermented into Microbial proteins.

Lipogenesis

The anabolic process of fatty acid synthesis

Beta-oxidation

The catabolic process of fatty acid breakdown

Gluconeogenesis

The synthesis of glucose from non-carbohydrate precursors.

Glycolysis

The breakdown of glucose to pyruvate.

Glycogenesis

The synthesis of glycogen from glucose.

Deamination

The removal of nitrogen from amino acids.

Oxidative Phosphorylation

The process of generating ATP using energy from the electron transport chain and chemiosmosis.