How many compartments are present in a lamb's stomach?

How many compartments are present in a lamb's stomach?

• A. 1
• B. 2
• C. 4
• D. 5

Answer: (C)

A lamb's stomach is divided into four compartments: the rumen, reticulum, omasum, and abomasum. This anatomical structure is characteristic of ruminant animals, which have evolved to efficiently digest plant material through a complex fermentation process. The rumen is the largest compartment, serving as a fermentation chamber where microorganisms break down fibrous plant materials, such as cellulose. Next, the reticulum works closely with the rumen to further process the food and is often involved in the regurgitation of food, allowing the animal to “chew the cud.” The omasum’s role is to absorb water and nutrients from the digestive contents, while the abomasum functions similarly to the stomach in non-ruminant animals, where enzymes break down food for nutrient absorption. Given this understanding of a lamb's digestive system, the answer reflects the correct number of stomach compartments present in ruminants.

A lamb's stomach is divided into four compartments: the rumen, reticulum, omasum, and abomasum. This anatomical structure is characteristic of ruminant animals, which have evolved to efficiently digest plant material through a complex fermentation process.

The rumen is the largest compartment, serving as a fermentation chamber where microorganisms break down fibrous plant materials, such as cellulose. Next, the reticulum works closely with the rumen to further process the food and is often involved in the regurgitation of food, allowing the animal to “chew the cud.” The omasum’s role is to absorb water and nutrients from the digestive contents, while the abomasum functions similarly to the stomach in non-ruminant animals, where enzymes break down food for nutrient absorption.

Given this understanding of a lamb's digestive system, the answer reflects the correct number of stomach compartments present in ruminants.