omasum

1. (biology, food) The third compartment of the stomach of a ruminant; the lining of said compartment, regarded as a foodstuff.Examples: "The deer of the northern group are larger in body size and have well-developed rumino-reticulums, smaller omasums, and longer small intestines (Takatsuki 1988)."; "The omasum is a spherical organ filled with muscular laminae (an estimated 90 to 130 in the bovine omasum) that lie in sheets, much like the pages of a book (giving the omasum its colloquial name, book stomach)."; "The role of the omasum is not entirely clear. The organ fills with very fluid digesta leaving the reticulo-rumen, but omasal contents are very dry and tightly compacted. Clearly, fluid absorption takes place in the omasum and in cattle, water, electrolytes and VFA^([volatile fatty acids]) are absorbed."Synonyms: bible, leaf tripe, manyplies, psalterium