rumen

American  

[roo-min] / ˈru mɪn /

noun

plural

rumina

1. the first stomach of ruminating animals, lying next to the reticulum.

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rumen British  

/ ˈruːmɛn /

noun

1. the first compartment of the stomach of ruminants, behind the reticulum, in which food is partly digested before being regurgitated as cud

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rumen Scientific  

/ ro̅o̅′mən /

1. The first and largest division of the stomach in ruminant animals, in which the food is fermented by microorganisms.

2. See more at ruminant

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Etymology

Origin of rumen

First recorded in 1720–30, rumen is from the Latin word rūmen throat, gullet

Example Sentences

“The digestive tract, or rumen, basically requires movement. There has to be things moving out of that rumen constantly in order for the pH balance and microbiome to stay where it should be,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 4, 2024

"It's a real possibility," says Mizrahi, an expert on rumen biology.

From Science Daily • Mar. 18, 2024

The goal is to develop an oral treatment for calves that, once administered, will continue repopulating their rumen with the genetically modified microflora.

From Salon • Nov. 2, 2023

Because cows can’t readily digest the grass they eat, they ferment it first in multiple stomach compartments, or rumen, a process that releases huge amounts of gas.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 13, 2022

The rumen is like a twenty-five-gallon fermentation tank.

From "The Omnivore's Dilemma" by Michael Pollan