46 Hounds 



The pharynx forms the entrance to the oesophagus 

 or gullet, and is situated above and at the back of the 

 larynx. It is continued as the gullet down the neck 

 behind the windpipe, then through the chest com- 

 partment above the heart, passing through the midriff 



into the stomach, its entrance into which is funnel- 

 shaped. 



This end of the stomach is spoken of as the 

 cardiac (meaning nearest to heart) portion in contra- 

 distinction to the opposite portion of the stomach — 

 the pyloric end. 



The gullet is composed of muscular fibres in 

 addition to other tissues, but the swallowing of food 

 is chiefly due to the contraction of these muscular 

 fibres, excited to action by the bolus of food. The 

 gullet has really four layers of tissue entering into its 

 structure, viz.: (a) An epithelial lining and mucous 

 membrane ; (&) a submucous coat containing blood- 

 vessels and glands ; (c) 2i muscular coat ; (d) a.n outer 

 sheath of fibrous tissues, which help to keep the tube 

 in its position. 



The length of this tube varies according to the 

 length of neck, attaining its maximum of length in 

 the Greyhound and Deerhound. The stomach lies 

 just behind the liver, and is somewhat round in 

 shape, having a capacity in the adult hound of 

 three pints. Externally this organ is covered by 

 a serous membrane, the peritoneum, which also covers 



