Augmentation of nitrogen to the egg white after formation of the shell membranes in the fowl. Poultry Sci

FOLLOWING its discharge from the ovary, the yolk of the hen's egg is en-gulfed by the infundibulum of the oviduct. The ovum then enters the magnum where it is surrounded by a viscous layer of egg white. On leaving the magnum (albumen secreting region), the egg passes into the isthmian region, where it is enclosed by a very loose fitting membrane. The egg then enters the uterus where first the remainder of egg white (approximately 51 percent) is added, and then the entire egg is enclosed in a calcareous shell. This very briefly out-lines the process of egg formation in the fowl for the period that the egg remains in the egg duct. Pearl and Curtis (1912) concluded from their studies on the physiology of the ovi-duct that the secretion of egg white pro-teins is not restricted to any one division of the oviducal tube. They stated that only a part of the nitrogen could be accounted for as the egg passed from the magnum and that the remainder of the nitrogenous sub-stance is taken into the egg through the shell membranes while the egg is in the isthmian and shell gland regions. The ma-terial thus passing through the shell mem-branes was referred to as a dilute albumen which constitutes the outer thin white of the fully formed laid egg. This physiological problem has receive