Cow Power!

Yep, it's time to palpate the RUMEN! As a vet student, you need to know what you're dealing with and thanks to the lovely fistitulated cows that make their home at UCD, we get this great opportunity! 

 And here is the money shot, I was eventually shoulder length in Rumen! 

 Above: The layers of the rumen

Above: This is a collection of metal collected on a magnet placed in a cow's reticulum. Why put a magnet in there? Cows often consume hardware which could potentially penetrate the diaphragm and possibly the pericardium or even heart. Magnets trap metal objects the cow may happen to digest and prevent them from harming the cow. The magnets are administered orally, that is unless you are a fistitulated cow! You can pull the magnet in and out through the fistitula!

 Above: a shot into the fistitula of the cow. Really cool! A lot of rumen contents has already been removed, but will be returned to the cow after everyone has had a chance to palpate.

 What makes up a rumen?