Part 4: Camelid Abdominal Viscera

Self-Study of Camelid Abdominal Viscera

Camelid Stomach and Spiral Colon (DRY & WET, if available)

1. Study the available camelid stomach specimens.
   • Identify the three compartments of the camelid stomach: first compartment (C1), second compartment (C2) and third compartment (C3). (Figure 5-19)
   • Observe the interior of the stomach through the “window” and look for internal sacculations (cavities with glands); externally, note any corresponding ‘bumps’ on the surface.
     • C1 and C2 have obvious internal sacculations/cells; C1 also has obvious external ‘bumps’ representing the areas of sacculation.
     • C3 is non-sacculated, but this long, tubular compartment does have microscopic mucin glands (in the initial 4/5 of C3) and proper gastric glands (in the distal 1/5 of C3); the latter glands are similar to what is found in the abomasum of the ruminant stomach.
   • In C1, identify the ventricular lip (that extends into C2) and the transverse fold.
     • In C1, there is a ventricular groove with a single ventricular lip, extending from the region of the esophagus toward C2.
       • • Comparative Note: Recall in the ruminant that there is a similar structure called the reticular groove on the medial wall of the reticulum, but it has two lips rather than one.
     • Note the transverse fold that divides C1 into cranial and caudal parts.
     • Note the absence of papillae in C1.
2. C3 then leads into the duodenum.

• • Note the initial enlargement of the duodenum which is known as the duodenal ampulla.

1. Study the available spiral colon specimens.

• • Note that the camelid ascending colon is coiled into a spiral colon, similar to that of ruminants, but it lacks proximal and distal loops before and after the spiral portion.

 Figure 5-19. (Left) Llama stomach, right side. e, esophagus; C1, C2, C3, stomach compartments; s, glandular saccules of C1; p, pylorus; D, duodenal ampulla.