proventriculus

[proh-ven-trik-yuh-luh s]

noun, plural pro·ven·tric·u·li [proh-ven-trik-yuh-lahy] /ˌproʊ vɛnˈtrɪk yəˌlaɪ/.

the glandular portion of the stomach of birds, in which food is partially digested before passing to the ventriculus or gizzard.

a similar enlargement in the alimentary tract of several invertebrates, variously modified for maceration and digestion.

Origin of proventriculus

First recorded in 1825–35; pro-¹ + ventriculus

Related formspro·ven·tric·u·lar, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for proventriculus

Historical Examples of proventriculus

One specimen, two inches long, reached from the crop to the proventriculus.
Parasites
T. Spencer Cobbold
The first appears like an elongated dilatation of the œsophagus, forming the Proventriculus or glandular stomach.
The Anatomy of the Human Peritoneum and Abdominal Cavity
George. S. Huntington

British Dictionary definitions for proventriculus

proventriculus

noun plural -triculi (-ˈtrɪkjʊˌlaɪ)

the first part of the stomach of birds, the gizzard

the thick muscular stomach of crustaceans and insects; gizzard

Derived Formsproventricular, adjective

Word Origin for proventriculus

C19: from New Latin, from Latin pro- 1 + ventriculus little belly, from venter belly

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012