Dissection Technique for Examination of the Bovine Ruminoreticulum

For optimal examination and evaluation of component sacs of the ruminoreticulum, a new dissection technique using the following steps was devised. First, manually detach serosal, fibrous and smooth muscle attachments in all grooves and then lay the ruminoreticulum on its right side and make three incisions. Start the first incision on the cranial surface of the reticulum and cut dorso-caudally in a sagittal plane to a point where an extension of the ruminoreticular groove would cross the dorsal greater curvature. Make a second incision from the cranial to caudal grooves, just dorsal to the left longitudinal groove and then join the end of the first incision with the cranial end of the second. Examine the mucosa and dissect the caudodorsal, caudoventral blind sacs and ventral sac free so that their mucosa may be examined carefully. Suggestions for photography of the ruminal mucosa and its preparation for light and scanning electron microscopy are given.