Gastric Mill (Noun)
Meaning
Thick-walled muscular pouch below the crop in many birds and reptiles for grinding food.
Classification
Nouns denoting animals.
Examples
- The digestive system of a raptor includes a strong beak for tearing and a robust gastric mill for grinding its food.
- Many birds have an efficient system of digestion in which food is regurgitated from the crop into a muscular gastric mill.
- Fossil evidence suggests some dinosaurs possessed a gizzard or gastric mill to process seeds, fruits and vegetation.
- The pigeon's unique digestive system comprises a gizzard, often referred to as a gastric mill, where pebbles or grit from food sources are stored.
- Some reptiles possess a gastric mill as an adaptation to break down plant materials difficult for other reptiles to digest.