Blood flow to rumen and spleen in animals

Blood flow to rumen and spleen in animals

Rumen blood flow

Feeding and the products of rumen digestion, carbon dioxide and volatile fatty acids, increases rumen blood flow.

Splenic Circulation

In certain mammals (dog, cat, horse, guinea pig) the spleen serves as a reservoir of blood. Normally blood is stored in the venous sinuses and is released into the circulation when the need arises (as during exercise, anoxia and hemorrhage). This splenic emptying mechanism is under sympathetic regulation.

Stimulation of splenic nerve fibers results in decrease in arterial inflow and increase in venous outflow. Norepinephrine mediates arteriolar inflow constriction and epinephrine-mediates emptying.

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