Macroscopic Studies of the Gastrointestinal Tract of the African Grasscutter (Thyronomys swinderianus)

We observed and measured the macroscopic anatomical parameters of the gastrointestinal tract of 8 grasscutter. The stomach was relatively small, about 3% when compared to the body size. It presented 3 portions: Cardiac, fundic and pylorus, which are similar to the monogastric animals documented in the literature. It can therefore, be classified as a simple stomach (with one chamber), in form of a curved sac and similar to an inverted letter J . The Gastrointestinal Tract (GIT) mean weight and length were 142.3 11.94 g and 2.89.5 21.30 cm, respectively. This accounted for 14% of the total body weight in this animal. The cecum was slightly longer than the stomach but was observed to be the largest organ in the abdominal cavity, similar to that of the horse. It had 3 portions: Base, body and apex. Longitudinal bands of smooth muscles called tenias with intervening sacculations or haustra were observed in both cecum and colon. The colon mean length was 121 12.9 cm, while, the jejunum was 109.5 9.03 cm, given a differences of 12 cm in favor of the colon. This accounted for 42 and 38% of the colon and jejunal total length of the GIT, respectively. The colon was the longest segment of the GIT and not the jejunum.