Rumen (Noun)
Meaning
The first compartment of the stomach of a ruminant; here food is collected and returned to the mouth as cud for chewing.
Classification
Nouns denoting animals.
Examples
- The digestive system of the cow is specialized, with the largest part being the rumen where it stores food.
- Food remains in the rumen for several hours where it softens and begins to break down before moving to the next chamber.
- Cattle and sheep both have a large rumen to facilitate their diet of mainly cellulose-rich plants.
- As a ruminant, the goat swallows food which is stored in its rumen to be later regurgitated for chewing.
- A four-chambered stomach consists of the rumen, reticulum, omasum, and abomasum.