Reticulum (anatomy)

The reticulum (or the hood, Latin reticulum ) is the foremost location section of the stomach of ruminants. The name ' reticulum ' itself derives from the strip-shaped mucosal folds ( cristae reticuli ), the four -to six- cornered cap cells ( Cellulae reticuli ) limit and give the inner surface of the reticulum a honeycomb or net-like appearance. The reticulum is left in the abdominal cavity, in the rumen and directly behind the diaphragm. Since the functions of the reticulum and rumen are closely intertwined, both of which are also summarized under the term Ruminoreticulum.

The reticulum plays an important role as a separator of solid and already fermented feedstuffs. The former are fed back into the rumen, the latter in the omasum. It also allows rumination: Following a prolonged contraction hood lining is transported through antiperistaltic contractions of the esophagus back into the mouth, chewed and there abgeschluckt again.

From the mouth to the esophagus opening into the omasum ( ostium reticulo - omasicum ), the two muscular lips -based network part of the stomach, the stomach gutter covers ( sulcus reticuli ). This is outdated also called pharyngeal groove. The reticulum channel closes up in veal and lamb when recording liquid food reflex to a pipe ( hood gutter reflex). This prevents milk from entering the rumen and is fehlvergoren there, which would lead to diarrhea. This hood groove reflex disappears again later.

Most little selective feed intake of cattle often causes the lining of foreign body (eg, nails, pieces of fence wire ) are taken and trigger a so-called foreign body disease. The debris usually accumulate in the reticulum and can pierce the wall in the reticular contraction. This could result in, among other liver abscesses or pericardial inflammation.