Digestive system of humpback whales with a keratinized stratified squamous epithelium which is continuous of the oesophagus epithelium. Due to the reflux of stomach juices from the main stomach, minor digestive activity takes place in the forestomach. The main stomach, also referred to as the fundic stomach, secretes mucus, protein digesting enzymes and hydrochloric acid to aid the breakdown of food and lined. The stomach lining is reddish–purple, highly convoluted and sometimes trabeculate epithelium. The pyloric stomach secretes enzymes that digest fat as well as alkaline chemicals to neutralize the stomach acid. It is the combined actions of these different compartments that allow whales to
Digestive system of humpback whales digest the chitin in the exoskeletons of krill and prey swallowed whole. The duodenal ampulla can be described as the atrium of the small intestine and is a dilated sac forming the beginning of the duodenum. The duodenum prepares many nutrients from the digested matter (chyme), for absorption, which takes place in the intestines, and is the principal site for iron absorption. Digestive system of humpback whales The digestive system of humpback whales ("Megaptera novaeangliae") is adapted to digest tiny crustaceans such as krill, plankton, and small fish (including herring and mackerel) which the whale filters from the ocean using