Read the following description of a structure in the alimentary canal of a cockroach: It is flanked anteriorly by a large sac-like structure used for storing food, and posteriorly by a ring of 6-8 blind tubules that secrete digestive juice. Identify the structure described.

Step-by-step solution

In the alimentary canal of a cockroach, the large sac-like structure used for storing food is the crop. The ring of 6-8 blind tubules that secrete digestive juice is the hepatic or gastric caeca, which is present at the junction of the foregut and midgut. The structure located immediately between the crop and the hepatic caeca is the gizzard (proventriculus), which helps in grinding the food particles. Mesenteron (midgut) is posterior to the hepatic caeca. Oesophagus is anterior to the crop. Malpighian tubules are