Proventriculus

The proventriculus is part of the digestive system of birds, invertebrates and insects.

Birds

The proventriculus is a standard part of avian anatomy. It is generally a glandular part of the stomach that may store and/or commence digestion of food before it progresses to the gizzard.

The Encarta (2007) holds that the proventriculus is:

...part of bird's stomach: the first part of a bird's stomach, where digestive enzymes are mixed with food before it goes to the gizzard. It is analogous to the gizzard in insects and crustaceans.

Dr. Thomas Caceci (undated) discusses the proventriculus of the avian stomach and opines that:

The proventriculus is the glandular portion of the avian compound stomach, and a rather peculiar organ it is. There's nothing like it in mammals.

See also

• Esophagus
• Crop (anatomy)
• Gizzard

Notes