Anatomy of Birds

Anatomy of Birds

 

Esophagus

  

Canal in the anterior part of the digestive tract; it carries food to the crop. 

 

Gizzard

 

Muscular pouch behind the proventriculus in which food is ground with the help of stones swallowed by the bird before being digested. 

Lung 

 

Respiratory organ made up of an extensible tissue and forming a sac; air from the buccal cavity flows into it. 

Kidney 

 

Organ secreting urine; it eliminates toxic substances from the body. 

Ureter 

 

Long canal originating in the kidney and carrying urine to the cloaca. 

Pancreas

 

Digestive gland connected to the duodenum and producing digestive enzymes and hormones. 

Small intestine 

 

Long narrow portion of the digestive tract behind the duodenum where part of digestion and food absorption takes place. 

Cloaca

 

Orifice common to the intestine and the genital and urinary tracts; it is located at the terminal end of the digestive tract. 

Cecum

 

Lateral canal located in the anterior portion of the intestine where especially a part of digestion and fermentation take place. 

Rectum 

 

Terminal end of the intestine before the cloaca. 

Duodenum 

 

Anterior portion of the small intestine into which secretions from the liver and pancreas empty. 

Liver 

 

Gland secreting mostly a substance (bile) that contributes to digestion. 

Proventriculus 

 

Portion of the digestive tract opening out into the gizzard and secreting substances that help digestion. 

Crop 

 

Large bulge at the back of the esophagus; it can dilate to receive food. 

Heart 

 

Muscular organ helping blood to circulate.

Trachea 

 

Muscular cartilaginous canal carrying air from the buccal cavity to the lungs. 

Buccal cavity 

 

Anterior portion of the digestive tract containing the tongue and the salivary glands.