Assistant Laboratory Animal Technician (ALAT) Practice Exam

What are the thin sacs of tissue located on each side of a hamster's mouth called?

1. Cheek pouches

2. Jaw sacs

3. Salivary glands

4. Mouth pouches

The correct answer is: Cheek pouches

The thin sacs of tissue located on each side of a hamster's mouth are known as cheek pouches. These pouches serve an important function in the hamster's feeding behavior, allowing them to store food temporarily. Hamsters have the ability to expand these pouches to carry food back to their burrows or to a safe place for later consumption. This adaptation is especially useful in the wild, where food availability can fluctuate. In contrast, jaw sacs, salivary glands, and mouth pouches are not anatomically accurate terms for these structures in hamsters. Jaw sacs may suggest structures associated with the jaw but do not specifically describe the storage function. Salivary glands are involved in producing saliva for digestion but are distinctly different from the cheek pouches. Mouth pouches is a vague term that does not correspond to the specific anatomy observed in hamsters. Therefore, the distinction of cheek pouches as the correct term highlights the unique adaptations of hamsters for their feeding habits.