Digestive system of reptiles: features of structure and functioning

The digestive system of reptiles has its own characteristics, which make it much more difficult compared to the same structure in amphibian animals.

General characteristic of reptiles

Reptiles have their name because of the nature of movement on the earth's surface. They are either devoid of, or have short limbs, which are located in the horizontal plane. Therefore, they seem to "crawl" on the ground. They are all cold-blooded animals who have mastered both aquatic and terrestrial habitats. But the development of their embryos, which are surrounded by protective egg shells, occurs exclusively on land. The body of reptiles is covered with dry keratinized scales.

The main features of the internal structure are the appearance of the present thorax, exclusively pulmonary respiration, internal fertilization and the excretory system of reptiles, represented by the kidneys, bladder and cloaca.

Digestive system: basic departments

The digestive system of reptiles is represented by a tract and specialized glands. Unlike amphibians, these animals have salivary glands that produce enzymes. These substances are natural biological catalysts. They split complex organic substances into simple ones. It is in this form that they are able to be absorbed and stored for storage. The structure of the digestive system of reptiles is also characterized by the presence of undifferentiated teeth and the cecum. These are the main features of complication in comparison with amphibians.

The digestive tract of reptiles is represented by the oral cavity, pharynx, narrow esophagus, stomach and intestine. The latter is differentiated and consists of a thin and thick section, passing into the cecum. The digestive tube ends with cloaca. This hole, through which not only unreleased food remains, but also the products of the excretory and reproductive systems of the reptiles.

Digestive glands

The digestive system of reptiles is quite complicated. The digestion of both plant and animal food, which they use, would be impossible without the presence of glands. In addition to salivary, substances and enzymes that split, moisturize and facilitate ingestion of food, the reptiles have liver and pancreas. Each body performs its function. The liver secretes bile, which disinfects and splits food particles. A pancreas secretes enzymes that complete the cleavage of proteins, fats and carbohydrates.

Enzymes of the digestive glands of reptiles are chemically active substances. So, everyone knows the fact that snakes do not chew food, but capture their prey whole. The process of digestion begins only in the stomach. Sometimes its duration reaches several weeks.

Features of complication

As already mentioned, the excretory system of reptiles is characterized by certain features of complication. Despite the fact that all teeth in the oropharyngeal cavity are the same and serve only to capture and retain the prey, there are also specialized ones. For example, poisonous snakes. Many believe that they paralyze their prey with the help of language. But this is not so. In their mouth is a poisonous tooth, in which there is a channel with a toxic substance. And from the mouths of predators, for example crocodiles, and it is impossible to escape, because their teeth are especially powerful and sharp. For example, the incisors of this animal so often "work" that they change up to several dozen times a year. By the way, unlike amphibians, many of whom have a tongue as a body for the seizure of food, this organ of crocodids practically fuses with the base of their mouth, so it seems that it is not at all.

Functions of the digestive system of reptiles

The digestive system is designed for the cleavage and absorption of nutrients. When they are split, a certain amount of energy is released, which is used by living organisms to carry out all vital processes. In this case, the cleavage occurs with the help of enzymes of specialized glands, and the movement of food particles from the oral cavity to the cloaca is performed by the muscular walls of the tract.

So, the digestive system of reptiles has both typical features of the structure of chordates, and some distinctive features. Obviously, compared to amphibians, it is much more complicated. This manifests itself in the presence of digestive enzymes, which are secreted by specialized glands, the caecum and the differentiated intestine.