Gross Anatomical and Histomorphological Studies on Proventriculus of Japanese Quail

For the present study, 36 day old apparently healthy Japanese quail birds were selected. Birds were sacrificed and processed for dissection and gross parameters like weight, volume, length, diameter and thickness of proventriculus. Small tissue pieces of 3 to 5 mm length from proventriculus were processed for histomorphological studies. The mucosal surface of proventriculus revealed presence of papillae. The wall of the proventriculus presented tunica mucosa, tunica sub-mucosa, tunica muscularis and tunica serosa. The bulk of the wall of proventriculus was made up of proventriculus glands in sub-mucosa. Proventriculus or glandular stomach of Japanese quail is an elliptical shaped organ. The main function of proventriculus is production of gastric juice and propulsion of juice and food into the gizzard which is the main site of gastric proteolysis, mucins and lipids.