Original Article

Morphological features of the distal

ileum and ceca of the common pigeon
(Columba livia)
Anietie Francis Udoumoh, Udensi Maduabuchi Igwebuike, Wilfred Ikechukwu Ugwuoke

Department of Veterinary Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka 410001, Enugu State, Nigeria

Abstract
Background to the study: Common pigeon (Columba livia) is widely distributed worldwide and feeds mainly
on grains or seeds and insects and small invertebrates. Some studies have demonstrated variations in the
morphology and function of avian alimentary tract. Methods: Ten apparently healthy adult common pigeons
were examined in this study. Following euthanasia, gross and histological techniques were used to investigate the
morphology of the distal ileum and ceca of common pigeon. Results: At the ileo‑ceco‑rectal junction, the tunica
muscularis of the distal ileum exhibited a thickened layer of oblique smooth muscle fibers positioned between
the middle circular and outer longitudinal smooth muscle layers. The ceca of the common pigeon were paired,
small (approximately 0.33 cm), blind‑ended sacs situated at acute angles with the distal ileum. Histologically, each
cecum exhibited a lamina propria‑submucosa that contained aggregates of lymphocytes and few glandular acini
throughout the length of the organ. Conclusion: It was suggested that the ceca of the common pigeon may be
important in immunological response of the bird to invasion by antigens while playing some roles in the digestion
of food materials. Moreover, the thickened oblique layer of smooth muscle fibers in the wall of the distal ileum
may serve to regulate the passage of materials through the ileo-ceco-rectal orifice.
Key words: Cecum, common pigeon, distal ileum, lamina propria‑submucosa, sphincter

INTRODUCTION alimentary tract, and these may be related to evolutionary

events, type and nature of food intake, and habitat
Common pigeon (Columba livia) is widely distributed (Parchami and Dehkordi, 2011). Components of the avian
worldwide and feeds mainly on grains or seeds (Cininari digestive tract include two blind-ended sacs, the ceca,
et al., 2005) and insects and small invertebrates (Jokimati which are highly variable in size, but are usually more
and Suhonen, 1998). Some studies have demonstrated conspicuous in plant-eating birds. The ceca are considered
variations in the morphology and function of avian sites for microbial fermentation of plant materials and
are thought to also play significant roles in the defense
Address for correspondence: of the body against invasion by antigens (Klasing, 1998;
Dr. Anietie Francis Udoumoh, Igwebuike and Eze, 2010). Many studies have reported
Department of Veterinary Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, on the morphology of the avian ceca in chicken (Rezaian
University of Nigeria, Nsukka 410001, Enugu State, Nigeria.
E‑mail: [Link]@[Link]
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Udoumoh, A. F., Igwebuike, U. M., & Ugwuoke, W. I. (2016). Morphological features of the
DOI: distal ileum and ceca of the common pigeon (Columba livia). Journal of Experimental and
10.4103/1596-2393.190827 Clinical Anatomy, 15(1), 27-30.

© 2016 Journal of Experimental and Clinical Anatomy 27

 Udoumoh, et al.: Morphology of distal ileum and ceca of common pigeon

and Hamedi, 2007; Majeed et al., 2009), African pied

crow (Igwebuike and Eze, 2010), Owl (Mot, 2010),
duck (Dziala‑Szczepanczyk and Wesolowska, 2008),
ostrich (Duritis and Mugurevics, 2011), guinea fowl
(Kasperska, et al., 2012), and quail (Zaher, et al., 2012);
however, the mechanism by which the passage of food
materials through the ileo‑ceco‑rectal orifice is regulated
has remained a subject of controversy among researchers
(Clarke, 1978; Duke, 1986; Mahdi and McLelland,
1988). Moreover, there is a paucity of information on the
morphology of the distal ileum and ceca of the common
pigeon. Thus, the present study undertakes to provide
information on the histomorphology of the ceca and distal
ileum of the common pigeon.
Figure 1: Photograph of the digestive tract of the common pigeon (Columba
livia) showing the two ceca (arrows). Note the duodenum (D), jejunum (J),
MATERIALS AND METHODS ileum (I), ileo‑ceco‑rectal junction (asterisk) and the colorectum (C)

Animals Histological Features of the Distal Ileum

Ten adult common pigeons of mean weight 325.4 ± 6.12 g The wall of the distal ileum was composed of tunica
were used for the study. They were obtained from local mucosae, tunica submucosa, tunica muscularis, and tunica
markets in Nsukka Local Government Area, Enugu serosa. The tunica mucosae were thrown into villous folds
State, Nigeria. The birds were humanely sacrificed which were lined by simple columnar epithelium. The
by euthanasia. This was achieved by intravenous epithelium contained several goblet cells. The submucosa
administration of ketamine (0.1 ml/g body weight of of the distal ileum contained numerous glands while the
bird). tunica muscularis exhibited inner longitudinal, middle
circular, and outer longitudinal layers of smooth muscle
Gross Anatomy cells. At the ileo‑ceco‑rectal junction, the tunica muscularis
Following death, the intestines were dissected and the showed a thickened layer of oblique smooth muscle
shape, physical appearance, and in‑situ topographical fibers positioned between the middle circular and outer
relationships of the distal ileum and ceca were studied. longitudinal smooth muscle layers [Figure 2].
Photographs were captured with a Sony® 14.1‑megapixel
digital camera. Histological Features of the Ceca
The luminal surface of each cecum was covered by lamina
Histological Preparation epithelialis mucosae of simple columnar epithelium.
Segments of the ceca and distal part of the ileum were Beneath the epithelium, there was a loose connective
fixed by immersion in Bouin’s fluid for 48 h. These tissue layer, the lamina propria‑mucosae. The lamina
were later dehydrated in increasing concentrations of muscularis mucosae were lacking in the cecum of the
ethanol, cleared in xylene, and embedded in paraffin wax. common pigeon, such that the connective tissue of the
Following mounting on wooden blocks, 5 µm thick sections lamina propria was continuous with the subjacent tunica
were obtained with a rotary microtome. The sections were submucosa, thus forming the lamina propria‑submucosa
mounted on glass slides and stained with hematoxylin [Figure 3]. This broad connective tissue layer contained
and eosin for light microscopy. Photomicrographs were many lymphoid aggregations and few glandular acini. A
captured using a Moticam® digital camera (Motic China tunica muscularis was present, and the smooth muscles
Group Co., Ltd, Xiamen, China). of this tunic were characteristically arranged within three
layers namely inner longitudinal, middle circular, and
RESULTS outer longitudinally arranged layers [Figures 4 and 5].
Blood vessels and nerve plexuses were apparent within
Gross Anatomical Features of the Ceca the tunica muscularis. The tunica serosa was evident as a
The large intestine of the common pigeon (C. livia) thin layer of connective tissue lined by a simple squamous
exhibited two ceca, which appeared as blind‑ended sacs epithelium on its external surface [Figures 3‑5].
that extended from the junction of the colorectum and the
distal part of the ileum. Each cecum was approximately DISCUSSION
0.33 cm in length and was situated at an acute angle with
the distal part of the ileum. The tips of the ceca were Morphological features of avian digestive tract are thought
cranially directed [Figure 1]. to be generally adapted to the feeding habit, food type,

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 Udoumoh, et al.: Morphology of distal ileum and ceca of common pigeon

Figure 2: Photomicrograph of the distal ileum at ileo‑ceco‑rectal junction Figure 3: Photomicrograph of the cecum of common pigeon showing
showing modification of the tunica muscularis into an inner longitudinal the serosa (straight black arrow), tunica muscularis (M), lamina
(asterisk), middle circular (MC), and outer longitudinal (OL) layers of smooth propria‑submucosa (LS), and simple columnar epithelium of the tunica
muscle. Note an oblique smooth muscle layer (B) between the middle circular mucosa (curved arrow). Note the lymphocytic aggregations (LA) of the lamina
and outer longitudinal smooth muscle layers; the tunica submucosa (S); and propria‑submucosa (H and E, ×40) scale bar = 100 µm
the finger‑like villous projections (arrow) (H and E, ×100) scale bar = 100 µm

Figure 5: The cecum of common pigeon showing inner longitudinal (IL),

Figure 4: Photomicrograph of the cecum of common pigeon showing middle circular (MC), and outer longitudinal (OL) smooth muscle layers. Note
connective tissue of the serosa (S), smooth muscle layers of the tunica the lymphocytic aggregation (I), glandular acinus (asterisk) and serosa (S)
muscularis (M), the lymphocytic aggregation (LA), and acini of glands (H and E, ×400) scale bar = 20 µm
(asterisk) of tunica submucosa (H and E, ×400) scale bar = 20 µm

small‑sized ceca has been reported in other birds including

and habitat of the particular species of bird. The present eagle, hawks, African pied crow, vultures, and other prey
study illustrates the occurrence of an oblique thickened birds (Naik, 1962; Clench and Mathias, 1995; Igwebuike
layer of smooth muscle fibers interposed between the and Eze, 2010). It has been demonstrated that the size
middle circular and outer longitudinal smooth muscle of the avian ceca may be influenced by the type of diet
layers of the tunica muscularis of the common pigeon. We consumed by the particular species of bird (Leopold, 1953;
postulate that this thickened muscle layer may serve as a Clench and Mathias, 1995; Igwebuike and Eze, 2010;
sphincter that governs the movement of the ingesta from Karasov, et al., 2011; Duritis, et al., 2013). Barnes and
the distal ileum, into the colorectum; thus, it regulates the Thomas (1987) showed that predatory species of birds,
passage of materials through the ileo‑ceco‑rectal orifice with no indigestible carbohydrates in their diet, were
and limits the diversion of food particles into the lumen characterized with poor cecal development. The presence
of the ceca. A similar function was ascribed to an ileal of glandular acini in the lamina propria‑submucosa of the
papilla located in the terminal part of the ileum of chicken common pigeon’s ceca, as demonstrated in this study,
and duck (Clarke, 1978: Mahdi and McLelland, 1988). indicates that some enzymatic breakdown of food particles
may occur in the ceca. Indeed, avian ceca are thought
The ceca of common pigeon are small in size measuring to play a role in microbial degradation of carbohydrates
approximately 0.33 cm in length. The occurrence of similar (Rezaian and Hamedi, 2007), cholesterol digestion and

Journal of Experimental and Clinical Anatomy | Vol. 15 | Issue 1 | Jan-Jun 2016 29

 Udoumoh, et al.: Morphology of distal ileum and ceca of common pigeon

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