proventriculus

American  

[proh-ven-trik-yuh-luhs] / ˌproʊ vɛnˈtrɪk jə ləs /

noun

proventriculi plural

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

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

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proventriculus British  

/ ˌprəʊvɛnˈtrɪkjʊləs /

noun

1. the first part of the stomach of birds, the gizzard

2. the thick muscular stomach of crustaceans and insects; gizzard

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• proventricular
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• proventriculi
  plural

Etymology

Origin of proventriculus

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

Example Sentences

The researchers found a positive relationship between the amount of plastic in the proventriculus and the degree of scarring.

From Scientific American • Mar. 22, 2023

These findings included the first description of overproduction of scar tissue in the birds’ proventriculus – the part of their stomach where chemical digestion occurs. 

From Scientific American • Mar. 22, 2023

"We identified significant evidence for widespread plastic-related scar tissue formation in the proventriculus of wild seabirds," the authors wrote in what is likely the first study to thoroughly document plastic-induced fibrosis in wild organisms.

From Salon • Mar. 8, 2023

Before anything enters a bird's gizzard, an organ for grinding up food, the proventriculus secretes digestive enzymes and hydrochloric acid to break down meals.

From Salon • Mar. 8, 2023

As the various portions of the food undergo digestion, they are allowed to pass through the proventriculus into the stomach, where the nutrient substances are absorbed.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 13, Slice 4 "Hero" to "Hindu Chronology" by Various