Question 4
(a) Name one group of farm animals from which each of specimens M, N and O
could be found. [3 marks]
(b) State one characteristic feature of each of specimens N, O, P and Q. [4 marks]
(c) State two functions each of specimens N, O, P and Q. [8 marks]
Observation
Question 4 question was quite popular among candidates and performance was impressive. However, some candidates were mentioning farm animals within a specific group e.g. fowl instead of poultry/avians/birds.
The expected answers include:
4. (a) Groups of farm animals from which specimens M (Crop), N (Gizzard) and
O (Rumen) could be found
Specimen M (Crop) - Poultry/avians/birds
Specimen N (Gizzard) - Poultry/avians/birds
Specimen O (Rumen) - Ruminants
(b) Characteristic features of specimens N (Gizzard), O (Rumen),P (Small intestine)
and Q (Liver)
Specimen N (Gizzard)
- Thick and muscular walls
- Lined with thick membrane
- Contains grits/stones
Specimen O (Rumen)
- Towel-like structure
- Possesses small fingerlike projections from the walls
Specimen P (Small intestine)
- Tube-like structure
- The walls are velvet/thin in texture
- Possesses villi which are minute hair-like structure in the walls
Specimen Q (Liver)
- Has dark brown colour
- A mass of bloody soft tissue
- It has bile ducts/hole
(c) Functions of specimens N (Gizzard), O (Rumen), P (Small intestine) and Q (Liver)
Specimen N (Gizzard)
- Passage of feed
- Grinding of feed/aids digestion
- Mixes digestive enzymes with feed/chemical degradation
- Temporary storage of feed
Specimen O (Rumen)
- Acts as fermentation vat - Temporary storage of ingested herbage
- Absorption of fatty acids - Production of volatile fatty acids
- Synthesis of vitamin B complex - Synthesis of microbial protein
- Aids regurgitation of feed when chewing cud
Specimen P (Small intestine)
- Absorption of nutrients in digested feed
- Emulsification of fats
- Digestion of feed ends here
- Mixes ingested food with mucus
- Receives digesting enzymes from the pancreas
Specimen Q (Liver)
- Detoxification of toxic substances - Synthesis of bile acids/digestion
- Metabolism of nutrients - Synthesis of plasma proteins
- Storage of vitamins - Storage of iron
- Deamination - Regulation of blood sugar