The digestive tracts of cows and cats are structurally different. Cows have a "fermentation chamber" in their foregut that houses bacteria. Why might this anatomical structure benefit the cow?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

As herbivores, cows consume a lot of plant material that is difficult to digest due to the tough cell walls made of cellulose. Cows themselves do not produce cellulase, the enzyme needed to break down cellulose. However, bacteria in the fermentation chamber of the cow's foregut produce cellulase and other enzymes that break down the cellulose, making the nutrients in the food more accessible for absorption by the cow. This increases the cow's ability to extract nutrition from its food, making the chamber an important adaptation for herbivorous animals like cows. Option A is incorrect because the size difference between cats and cows is not the reason for the fermentation chamber. Option C and D are incorrect because cows do not eat meat and the fermentation chamber does not produce energy through anaerobic respiration.

The Digestive Tracts of Cows and Cats Are Structurally Different