elgyomor

Előgyomor, commonly written elgyomor in non-diacritic texts, refers to the fore-stomach region of ruminant mammals such as cattle, sheep, and goats. In Hungarian anatomy it denotes the functional group that includes three compartments—the reticulum, the rumen, and the omasum—while the abomasum is considered the true stomach or glandular stomach that follows. The term is sometimes used interchangeably with elögyomor or forestomajor in broader discussions of ruminant digestion.

Anatomy and function

The fore-stomach chambers collaborate to store, mix, and ferment plant material before chemical digestion in the abomasum. The rumen and reticulum house a complex microbial community that breaks down cellulose and other fibrous components, producing volatile fatty acids that supply most of the energy for the animal. Ruminants regurgitate partially digested cud from the fore-stomach for re-chewing, a process known as rumination, which helps reduce particle size and improve microbial action. The omasum concentrates and absorbs water and some minerals before the ingested material passes to the abomasum.

Physiology and relevance

The fore-stomach environment is largely anaerobic and temperature-controlled, with pH typically near neutral to slightly alkaline, influenced by diet. Diet composition, forage quality, and roughage levels shape the fore-stomach microbiota and fermentation efficiency. In veterinary and agricultural contexts, management of forage, feed additives, and rumen health are central to optimizing digestion and animal performance. Disorders of the fore-stomach, such as bloat or rumen acidosis, have significant economic and welfare implications.

See also

Ruminant digestion, rumen, reticulum, omasum, abomasum.