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Glite Dictionary
ventriculus

ventriculus

9.9
A thick, strong stomach in birds and reptiles that grinds food
  • noun
  • /vɛnˈtrɪkjələs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : ventrículo
  • Unlike mammals, birds possess a distinct organ called the ventriculus that aids in breaking down food.

Examples

  • The bird's ventriculus helps it digest seeds efficiently.

  • Veterinarians examined the lizard’s ventriculus to diagnose its digestive problems.

  • Many seed-eating birds rely on a strong ventriculus to grind hard grains before digestion.

  • Many reptiles have a strong ventriculus for grinding their food.

  • The ventriculus in birds is responsible for grinding seeds and other tough food items.

  • In reptiles, the ventriculus acts as a muscular stomach, helping to break down their food more efficiently.

  • To aid digestion, the ventriculus contracts powerfully, helping to pulverize the food swallowed by the bird.

Synonyms

gizzard
vsventriculus
  • Specialized
9 7.0

A strong, thick part inside a bird's stomach that grinds food with small stones it swallows

is the muscular stomach below the crop that grinds without using swallowed stones
gastric mill
vsventriculus
  • Specialized
9.6

A strong, thick part of some animals' stomachs that grinds food

is the stomach found below the crop and identified as a specific organ

Surface Forms

ventriculus singular
ventriculi plural

Etymology

Ventriculus comes from the Latin word venter, which means 'belly', with a small ending that makes it a 'little belly'. So the ventriculus is a strong, thick stomach used by birds and reptiles to grind food, which is why we call it the gizzard.