Gut Development

Development of Foregut Structures

Development of Midgut structures

Development of Hindgut Structures

  1. From what tissue layer do most gut structures develop?
  1. What structure connects the midgut with the yolk sac?
  1. Trace the rotation of the stomach during embryogenesis.

  1. What is a mesentery? What are the main functions of a mesentery?
  1. Describe how stomach rotation results in formation of the lesser sac (omental bursa)
  1. What structures does the lesser omentum connect?

Retroperitoneal

Secondarily Retroperitoneal

  1. How does an organ become secondarily retroperitoneal?
  1. What 2 parts of the primitive gut give rise to the duodenum? What duct marks the site where
    these 2 areas meet?
  1. Why are the pancreas and duodenum secondarily retroperitoneal?
  1. What two organs are formed from the hepatic diverticulum?
  1. What germ layer gives rise to the pancreas?

  1. How does an annular pancreas form? What is its clinical significance?
  1. How does an atresia differ from a stenosis?

Physiological Umbilical Herniation

  1. What is physiological umbilical herniation? When does it occur? What disease states can arise if
    this process is incomplete?
  1. What accounts for the crowding of the abdomen as herniation is taking place?
  1. When are the cecum and appendix formed?

  1. How are the jejunum and ileum formed?

Intraperitoneal

  1. Which segment/s of the colon remain intraperitoneal?

Clinical Issues

  1. What structure forms Meckel’s diverticulum? Why is this important clinically?
  1. What is the difference between an umbilical hernia and omphalocoele?
  1. Does gastroschisis involve the umbilical cord or the umbilical wall?
  1. What portion/s of the gut become temporarily occluded during development?
  1. Fusion of the urorectal septum with the cloacal membrane partitions the cloaca into what two
    cavities?
  1. Why is the lower 1/3 of the anal canal an ectodermal structure?
  1. Is Hirschsprung’s disease primarily a neurological dysfunction or a muscular dysfunction?
  1. What is a rectovaginal fistula versus rectourethral fistula and how do they form?