Comprehensive Physiology Wiley Online Library

Avian gastrointestinal motor function

Full Article on Wiley Online Library



Abstract

The sections in this article are:

1 Gross Anatomy
1.1 Mouth and Pharynx
1.2 Esophagus and Crop
1.3 Glandular Stomach
1.4 Muscular Stomach
1.5 Small Intestine
1.6 Ceca, Rectum, and Cloaca
1.7 Liver and Pancreas
2 Methods of Study of Motility in Birds
3 Prehension and Swallowing
4 Motility of Esophagus and Crop
5 Motility of Stomach and Duodenum
5.1 Motility Patterns: Fowl
5.2 Regulation of Motility: Fowl
5.3 Motility Patterns: Raptors
5.4 Regulation of Motility: Raptors
6 Motility of Ileum, Ceca, and Rectum
6.1 Ileum
6.2 Ceca
6.3 Rectum
7 Passage Rate
Figure 1. Figure 1.

Digestive tracts of 2.24‐kg, 12‐wk‐old turkey (A); 1.70‐kg, adult great horned owl (Bubo virginianus) (B); and 1.22‐kg adult red‐tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) (C). 1, Precrop esophagus; 2, crop; 3, postcrop esophagus; 4, glandular stomach; 5, isthmus; 6a, muscular stomach; 6, thin craniodorsal muscle; 7, thick cranioventral muscle; 8, thick caudodorsal muscle; 9, thin caudoventral muscle (6–9, muscular stomach of turkey); 10, proximal duodenum; 11, pancreas; 12, distal duodenum; 13, liver; 14, gallbladder; 15, ileum; 16, Meckel's diverticulum; 17, ileocecorectal junction; 18, ceca; 19, rectum; 20, bursa of Fabricius; 21, cloaca; 22, vent; G.C., greater curvature.

From Duke 24
Figure 2. Figure 2.

Tracings of typical records of electrical potential and intraluminal pressure changes from glandular stomach, muscular stomach, and duodenum of turkeys. Tracings A, C, and E: electrical potential changes recorded from glandular stomach, thick cranioventral muscle of muscular stomach, and proximal duodenum, respectively. Slow waves with spikes are evident in electrical potential tracings from duodenum (tracing E); only electrical spike discharges associated with contractions are evident in glandular stomach (A) and muscular stomach (C) tracings. Tracings B, D, and F: intraluminal pressure changes recorded from glandular stomach, muscular stomach, and duodenum, respectively. Muscular stomach contractions cause small intraluminal pressure changes in glandular stomach before each glandular stomach contraction wave. Very small changes in thoracoabdominal pressure due to respiration are recorded between contractions of all 3 organs. Time constant for electrical recording was 1.1 s.

From Duke et al. 43
Figure 3. Figure 3.

Relative sequences and duration of events in the gastroduodenal contraction cycle of turkeys. Horizontal lines, relative sequence and duration of each event; top 4 lines represent a contractile event, whereas bottom 3 lines represent ingesta flow; end of contraction and beginning of relaxation marked by x in each of top 4 lines. Vertical arrows, point in this sequence at which events occur. Tn, thin muscle pair; I, isthmus; Tk, thick muscle pair; Py, pylorus; D, duodenum; O, open; P, glandular stomach; C, closed; G, muscular stomach.

Modified from Dziuk and Duke 48 and Duke 25
Figure 4. Figure 4.

Tracings of typical records of pressure changes obtained from glandular stomach (A), muscular stomach (B), and upper proximal duodenum (C) of a turkey, showing pressure events during a duodenal reflux. Positions of open‐tipped tubes within gastrointestinal tract are indicated by corresponding circled letters A, B, and C on the diagram of a sagittal section of stomach. Biphasic pattern of tracing representing contraction of muscular stomach (B) is normally quite variable; the 2 phases are identified for 1 cycle: a, pressure wave due to contraction of thin muscle pair; b, pressure wave due to contraction of thick muscle pair.

From Duke et al. 27
Figure 5. Figure 5.

Tracings of typical records of electrical potential and intraluminal pressure changes from turkey muscular stomach and duodenum. A and C: tracings of electrical potential changes recorded from thick cranioventral muscle of muscular stomach and from proximal duodenum, respectively. Burst of action potential spikes in tracing A is associated with contraction of thick cranioventral muscle. Arrows in tracing C indicate beginning of separate slow waves in duodenum and 3 bursts of spike potentials are associated with 3 contractions in tracing D. B and D: tracings of intraluminal pressure changes recorded from muscular stomach and duodenal flexure, respectively. Tn, Tk, and D, beginning of pressure changes associated with contractions of thin muscle pair, thick muscle pair, and 3 contractions in duodenum, respectively. Time constant for electrical recording was 3.2 s. Expanded time scale is in first portion of this record only.

Adapted from Duke et al. 43 and Duke 25
Figure 6. Figure 6.

Tracings of records of contractions occurring after 24‐h fasting in muscular stomach of 1) turkey before entry of an attendant (A), after entry (B), after seeing food (C), and after eating (D); 2) red‐tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) (RT) and 3) great horned owl (Bubo virginianus) (GHO) in presence of an attendant (A), after seeing food (B), and after eating (C). Lines A‐D (turkey) or A‐C (RT and GHO) are 1 continuous recording. Contractions were detected via implanted strain gauge transducers.

From Duke et al. 36
Figure 7. Figure 7.

Frequencies of gastric contractions detected by gastric extraluminal strain gauge transducers in great horned owl (Bubo virginianus) plotted by 10‐min periods from food ingestion (mice) to pellet egestion for a meal eaten in 1 portion (A) or in 3 portions at 1‐h intervals (B). Interruptions in plot indicate a failure to record data for a brief period, usually because of technical difficulties. I, ingestion; C, start of chemical digestion phase; F, start of pellet formation motility; E, pellet egestion motility.

Modified from Fuller and Duke 52
Figure 8. Figure 8.

Tracings of typical records of contractions occurring in esophagus and muscular stomach before, during, and after pellet egestion in great horned owls (Bubo virginianus). Es, esophageal contractions obtained with strain gauge implants; Gs, muscular stomach (gastric) contractions. Numbers below Gs tracings, times (in min) before or after pellet egestion.

Modified from Duke et al. 37
Figure 9. Figure 9.

Graph of mean gastric contractile frequency in red‐tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) for a 24‐h period. I, ingestion; C, start of chemical digestion phase; F, start of pellet formation motility; E, pellet egestion motility. Thick black bar, period of lights out.

Modified from Durham 46
Figure 10. Figure 10.

Electrical potential changes and contractile forces recorded from 3 bipolar electrodes (◯) and 2 strain gauges () implanted on rectum of turkey. Electrical potential changes are shown in tracings A, C, and E, and contractions are shown in tracings B and D. Both long‐duration and short‐duration electrical slow waves are evident in tracings A and C; only short‐duration slow waves are evident in tracing E. Small contractions are evident in tracings B and D, but large contractions can be seen only in tracing B.

Modified from Lai and Duke 63 and Duke 25


Figure 1.

Digestive tracts of 2.24‐kg, 12‐wk‐old turkey (A); 1.70‐kg, adult great horned owl (Bubo virginianus) (B); and 1.22‐kg adult red‐tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) (C). 1, Precrop esophagus; 2, crop; 3, postcrop esophagus; 4, glandular stomach; 5, isthmus; 6a, muscular stomach; 6, thin craniodorsal muscle; 7, thick cranioventral muscle; 8, thick caudodorsal muscle; 9, thin caudoventral muscle (6–9, muscular stomach of turkey); 10, proximal duodenum; 11, pancreas; 12, distal duodenum; 13, liver; 14, gallbladder; 15, ileum; 16, Meckel's diverticulum; 17, ileocecorectal junction; 18, ceca; 19, rectum; 20, bursa of Fabricius; 21, cloaca; 22, vent; G.C., greater curvature.

From Duke 24


Figure 2.

Tracings of typical records of electrical potential and intraluminal pressure changes from glandular stomach, muscular stomach, and duodenum of turkeys. Tracings A, C, and E: electrical potential changes recorded from glandular stomach, thick cranioventral muscle of muscular stomach, and proximal duodenum, respectively. Slow waves with spikes are evident in electrical potential tracings from duodenum (tracing E); only electrical spike discharges associated with contractions are evident in glandular stomach (A) and muscular stomach (C) tracings. Tracings B, D, and F: intraluminal pressure changes recorded from glandular stomach, muscular stomach, and duodenum, respectively. Muscular stomach contractions cause small intraluminal pressure changes in glandular stomach before each glandular stomach contraction wave. Very small changes in thoracoabdominal pressure due to respiration are recorded between contractions of all 3 organs. Time constant for electrical recording was 1.1 s.

From Duke et al. 43


Figure 3.

Relative sequences and duration of events in the gastroduodenal contraction cycle of turkeys. Horizontal lines, relative sequence and duration of each event; top 4 lines represent a contractile event, whereas bottom 3 lines represent ingesta flow; end of contraction and beginning of relaxation marked by x in each of top 4 lines. Vertical arrows, point in this sequence at which events occur. Tn, thin muscle pair; I, isthmus; Tk, thick muscle pair; Py, pylorus; D, duodenum; O, open; P, glandular stomach; C, closed; G, muscular stomach.

Modified from Dziuk and Duke 48 and Duke 25


Figure 4.

Tracings of typical records of pressure changes obtained from glandular stomach (A), muscular stomach (B), and upper proximal duodenum (C) of a turkey, showing pressure events during a duodenal reflux. Positions of open‐tipped tubes within gastrointestinal tract are indicated by corresponding circled letters A, B, and C on the diagram of a sagittal section of stomach. Biphasic pattern of tracing representing contraction of muscular stomach (B) is normally quite variable; the 2 phases are identified for 1 cycle: a, pressure wave due to contraction of thin muscle pair; b, pressure wave due to contraction of thick muscle pair.

From Duke et al. 27


Figure 5.

Tracings of typical records of electrical potential and intraluminal pressure changes from turkey muscular stomach and duodenum. A and C: tracings of electrical potential changes recorded from thick cranioventral muscle of muscular stomach and from proximal duodenum, respectively. Burst of action potential spikes in tracing A is associated with contraction of thick cranioventral muscle. Arrows in tracing C indicate beginning of separate slow waves in duodenum and 3 bursts of spike potentials are associated with 3 contractions in tracing D. B and D: tracings of intraluminal pressure changes recorded from muscular stomach and duodenal flexure, respectively. Tn, Tk, and D, beginning of pressure changes associated with contractions of thin muscle pair, thick muscle pair, and 3 contractions in duodenum, respectively. Time constant for electrical recording was 3.2 s. Expanded time scale is in first portion of this record only.

Adapted from Duke et al. 43 and Duke 25


Figure 6.

Tracings of records of contractions occurring after 24‐h fasting in muscular stomach of 1) turkey before entry of an attendant (A), after entry (B), after seeing food (C), and after eating (D); 2) red‐tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) (RT) and 3) great horned owl (Bubo virginianus) (GHO) in presence of an attendant (A), after seeing food (B), and after eating (C). Lines A‐D (turkey) or A‐C (RT and GHO) are 1 continuous recording. Contractions were detected via implanted strain gauge transducers.

From Duke et al. 36


Figure 7.

Frequencies of gastric contractions detected by gastric extraluminal strain gauge transducers in great horned owl (Bubo virginianus) plotted by 10‐min periods from food ingestion (mice) to pellet egestion for a meal eaten in 1 portion (A) or in 3 portions at 1‐h intervals (B). Interruptions in plot indicate a failure to record data for a brief period, usually because of technical difficulties. I, ingestion; C, start of chemical digestion phase; F, start of pellet formation motility; E, pellet egestion motility.

Modified from Fuller and Duke 52


Figure 8.

Tracings of typical records of contractions occurring in esophagus and muscular stomach before, during, and after pellet egestion in great horned owls (Bubo virginianus). Es, esophageal contractions obtained with strain gauge implants; Gs, muscular stomach (gastric) contractions. Numbers below Gs tracings, times (in min) before or after pellet egestion.

Modified from Duke et al. 37


Figure 9.

Graph of mean gastric contractile frequency in red‐tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) for a 24‐h period. I, ingestion; C, start of chemical digestion phase; F, start of pellet formation motility; E, pellet egestion motility. Thick black bar, period of lights out.

Modified from Durham 46


Figure 10.

Electrical potential changes and contractile forces recorded from 3 bipolar electrodes (◯) and 2 strain gauges () implanted on rectum of turkey. Electrical potential changes are shown in tracings A, C, and E, and contractions are shown in tracings B and D. Both long‐duration and short‐duration electrical slow waves are evident in tracings A and C; only short‐duration slow waves are evident in tracing E. Small contractions are evident in tracings B and D, but large contractions can be seen only in tracing B.

Modified from Lai and Duke 63 and Duke 25
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Gary E. Duke. Avian gastrointestinal motor function. Compr Physiol 2011, Supplement 16: Handbook of Physiology, The Gastrointestinal System, Motility and Circulation: 1283-1300. First published in print 1989. doi: 10.1002/cphy.cp060135