gizzard
Sign in to savethumb|250x250px|Gizzard of a chicken
Article
20 sectionsContents
- Etymology
- Structure
- In birds
- Koilin lining
- Gizzard stones
- Animals with gizzards
- Mammals
- Birds and other archosaurs
- Fish
- Crustaceans
- Earthworms
- In cuisine
- Europe
- Asia
- Africa
- Americas
- Generic meaning
- References
- Citations
- General and cited sources
thumb|250x250px|Gizzard of a chicken
The gizzard, also referred to as the ventriculus, gastric mill, and gigerium, is an organ found in the digestive tract of some animals, including archosaurs (birds and other dinosaurs, crocodiles, alligators, pterosaurs), earthworms, some gastropods, some fish, and some crustaceans. This specialized stomach constructed of thick muscular walls is used for grinding up food, often aided by particles of stone or grit. In certain insects and molluscs, the gizzard features chitinous plates or teeth.