Veterinary Splanchnology and Applied Anotomy

CLOACA (FOWL)

• The terminal part of the intestinal tract consists of three compartments separated by contractile folds of mucous membranes

• The cloaca is a tubular structure opening on the exterior, and is the common opening for the digestive, urinary and genital systems
• It is divisible into three parts; coprodeum into which the colon empties
• It is ampulla like dilated sac as the direct continuation of the colon
• It receives and temporarily holds the feces passed into it from the colon
• The next portion, the urodeum, it is less extensive compartment into which the two ureters open into the urodeum in both sexes and in males the seminal duct and in females through a slit-like aperture, the oviduct opens into this segment
• The last portion- the proctodeum is the short, most caudal segment of the cloaca, ends at the vent
• A small opening in its dorsal wall leads to the cloacal bursa. A small dorsal proctodeal gland is found caudal to the bursa
• Vent is the horizontal slit like opening of the proctodeum
• An opening leads from the dorsal wall to the bursa of Fabricius - a blind sac like unpaired structure found best developed in chicken about four months of age
• It usually disappears at one year of age.