Anatomy & Physiology of a Bull

Although the term "bull" can be applied to the male counterpart of many species, it is most commonly applied to male cattle. The anatomy and physiology of a bull are similar to many other mammals, particularly other bovines. While the anatomy of a bull can mean simply the location of organs, limbs and other body parts of the bull, it is also common to refer to the "cut" anatomy of a bull, which tells where certain cuts of meat are found within the body.

  1. Features

    • Most bull cattle have strong shoulders, a crest and more dominant horns as opposed to their female counterparts. They also feature different sex organs, such as the testicles and penis.

      The crest is a masculine feature controlled by testosterone. Appearing as a large hump above the shoulders and below the neck, the size and development of the crest is often a pivotal sign of a fertile male. Herd bulls, or those selected as breeders, should start developing a healthy crest at approximately one year of age. Fertility problems can often be pre-diagnosed if the crest starts to shrink or does not grow at a proper rate.

    Appearance

    • Male cattle have several features of other bovines and their female counterparts. Bulls are thickly built creatures, having four legs, short necks, elongated faces and tails. They also exhibit horns with a base above the ears.

    Reproductive Systems

    • The bull, like many creatures, has a complex system of organs and glands. The reproductive anatomy of a bull serves as the key difference between male and female cattle. This system includes the testicles, penis and urethra. The urethra provides the outlet for semen and urine and is a narrow channel housed within the penis. The penis is protected by a sheath and held inside the body by strong muscles until the time of breeding.

      Testosterone helps develop the male reproductive system and also maintains several other functions within the body. While working in sync with other hormones, testosterone is vital to sperm development, the urge to breed, muscular and skeletal growth along with maintaining the reproductive tract.

    Digestive System

    • Contrary to popular belief, cattle do not have four stomachs. Instead, their stomachs consist of four compartments. The rumen, reticulum, omasum and abomasum all serve different functions within the digestive system.

      The first compartment, or rumen, offers several beneficial bacteria and other organisms. The reticulum catches undigestible materials such as rocks, wire and other items. The omasum serves the purpose of filtering large pieces back into the reticulum or passing digestible pieces onto the abomasum. The abomasum is most like the human stomach and processes the food for digestion. The final stages of the digestive process are carried out in the small and large intestines.

    Anatomy Regarding Meat

    • Cattle provide a variety of cuts of meat, from steaks and roasts to hamburger. The "chuck" portion of the bull is in front of the ribs near the chest, and produces many economical beef choices. The ribs offer a variety of options, including ribs and rib roasts. Brisket is located directly below the chuck portion and provides a large cut of beef perfect for grilling. "Round" refers to the area near the rump and provides round steaks, ground beef and others. Many of the popular steak choices, such as T-bone, porterhouse and sirloin, come from the sirloin and short-loin sections.