Motor functions of the ruminant forestomach

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Abstract
There is probably no other group of mammals in which alimentary canal motor function is as complex and critical to digestion as in the ruminants. The manner of propagation of excitation over the smooth muscle of the reticulum, rumen, and omasum is not known. Systematic physiological characterization of the anatomically contiguous yet functionally distinct smooth muscle and nerve net of the reticulum and rumen, or reticulum and omasum, has not been made. Cyclic reticulo-omasal flow and omaso-abomasal flow and their regulation need further study. The unique coordination of cyclic motor events in the reticulum, rumen, and omasum certainly requires more investigation, particularly in regard to the means of coordination. Questions on coordination of special reflex events with certain phases of the ongoing cyclic motor activity remain unanswered.