The digestive systems of various coleoid taxa can be compared here.
Anal flaps (= anal valves) - A pair of muscular palps that arise at the sides of the anus in most coleoids.
Anterior salivary glands - A pair of glands of the digestive system associated with the buccal mass. The function of the glands is poorly known but thought ot be primarily in mucous production.
Buccal mass - The muscular bulb that contains the beaks, radula, various glands and the pharynx.
Drawing modified from Mangold and Young, 1998.
Caecal sac - The sac-like, thin-walled posterior portion of the caecum that lacks the internal, ciliated leaflets characteristic of the anterior portion of the caecum; present in some decapodiforms.
Caecum - A major organ of the digestive system that is a primary site of absorption. It joins the stomach "upstream" and the intestine "downstream." Digestive enzymes enter the caecum in the ducts from the digestive gland.
Crop - Expansion (i.e. a broading) or a diverticulum (i.e., a side pocket) of the esophagus for storing food. Present in Nautilus and most octopodiforms.
Digestive gland - Primary organ in cephalopods that secretes digestive enzymes. It is also important in absorption and excretion.
Digestive gland duct appendages (DiGDA) - Outpockets of the ducts leading from the digestive gland that are covered with glandular epithelium.
Esophagus - The portion of the digestive tract between the buccal mass and the stomach. Often a portion of the esophagus is enlarged to form a crop.
Lips - The inner and outer lips surround the mouth and possess numerous ridges or papillae.
Stomach - A muscular organ of the digestive system generally lined with cuticular ridges to grind-up food with the aid of digestive enzymes. The stomach may be greatly expandable in size and serve as a storage area, in species lacking a crop, until food can be fully processed.
