anatomy of a venomous snake

heart

Muscular organ helping blood to circulate.

lung

Respiratory organ made up of an extensible tissue and forming a sac; air enters through the mouth and nostrils and flows into the lung.

esophagus

Canal of the anterior portion of the digestive tract; it carries food to the stomach.

liver

Gland secreting mostly a substance (bile) that contributes to digestion.

kidney

Organ secreting urine; it eliminates toxic substances from the body.

rattle

Pieces of scale at the end of the tail; the snake shakes them to scare away its enemies.

tail

Thin elongated terminal end of the body.

intestine

Section of the digestive tract between the stomach and the anus where absorption of nutrients is carried out and waste is transformed into fecal matter.

gallbladder

Small reservoir in which bile secreted by the liver collects before being discharged into the intestine during digestion.

stomach

Dilated section of the digestive tract preceding the intestine; it receives food to be digested.

belly scale

Each of the short wide fine scales that are set in a single row and cover the snake’s belly.