Forestomach (in rats)

Similar term(s): rumen.

Definition:

One of the two parts of the rat’s stomach. The forestomach is directly connected to the oesophagus and contains no glands. It serves as a holding chamber for food and is perhaps best compared to a pouch in the oesophagus, as opposed to a true stomach.

While humans do not have a forestomach, they do have comparable tissues in the mouth and the upper part of the oesophagus.

Source: GreenFacts, based on Ratbehavior.org