Development of GI Tract Flashcards
What is the significance of folic acid during development?
Folic acid helps fusion and closure of spinal cord
When are the primary germ layers formed?
The primary germ layers are formed during the process of gastrulation
How long after does an embryo implant into the uterine wall?
At the beginning of the third week, the embryo has implanted into the uterine wall
Describe the structure of an embryo
The embryo is a flat disc, comprised of two cell layers
Epiblast
Hypoblast
Explain how the embryo initially begins to develop
Epiblast cells in the midline of the embryo begin to ingress, starting from the caudal end
Visible as the primary streak
What do the ingressing cells differentiate into?
Ingressing cells differentiate into Mesoderm
Surrounding muscles, connective tissue & mesenteries and blood vessels
What does the epiblast give rise to?
Epiblast gives rise to Ectoderm (neural crest)
Innervation of the gut (enteric NS), skeletal muscles
What does the hypoblast and epiblast develop into?
Hypoblast (and epiblast) gives rise to Endoderm
Epithelium of the gut tube and glands
When does gastrulation occur?
Gastrulation generates the three primary germ layers within the 3rd week
How is the gut tube formed?
The gut tube is formed by folding of sheets of cells in two directions
Explain the folding that occurs to form the gut tube
Folding towards the midline along the cranial-caudal axis
Folding towards the yolk sac at the cranial and caudal ends
What does the cloacal membrane form?
Cloacal membrane - urogenital sinus; anus and genitals
What does the buccopharyngeal membrane form?
Buccopharyngeal membrane - head and neck
What is the septum transversum?
Septum transversum is the area where the diaphragm forms
What is the mesentery?
Mesentery = folded membrane that anchors on posterior axis (peritoneum)
Where is the GI tract anchored to/?
GI tract is anchored to the posterior abdominal wall
Describe the initial structure of the embryo
The embryo is initially a solid flat disc attached to the hemispherical yolk sac (& similarly to amnion)
How is part of the yolk sac cavity enclosed in the embryo?
Part of the yolk sac cavity is enclosed within the embryo by pinching-off the yolk sac to form a yolk stalk and balloon like yolk sac
How does the gut tube link from the mouth to the anus in the embryo?
Within the embryo, the cranial and caudal intestinal portals extend the tube towards the mouth and anus, delimited by the procordal and cloacal plates
What is the primary gut tube composed of?
Sheet of endoderm which makes the epithelia and glands
Surrounding mesoderm, which makes muscle and connective tissue (including mesentery)
What is the foregut composed of?
Pharynx Oesophagus Stomach Cranial half of duodenum Ampulla of Vater (joining of common bile duct and pancreatic duct)
What is the midgut made up of?
Caudal duodenum (from duodenal papilla) Jejunum Ileum Caecum Appendix Ascending colon Proximal 2/3 of transverse colon
What composes the hindgut?
Distal 1/3 of transverse colon
Descending Colon
Rectum
Describe the atrial blood supply of the gut
Inferior mesenteric artery - hind gut
Superior mesenteric artery - midgut
Celiac artery - foregut & abdominal organs
How well perfused is the gut?
Gut surrounded by plexus of blood vessels, joining vitelline vessels to aorta
What is the significance of the plexus of arteries around the gut?
Plexus resolves to form the arteries that supply the GI tract from the aorta
These define the boundaries of the gut
Describe the arterial blood supply of the GI tract
~ 5 arterial branches to the thoracic oesophagus (from the descending aorta)
Celiac artery to the foregut
Superior mesenteric artery to the midgut
Inferior mesenteric artery to the hindgut
Where do sympathetic ganglia form?
Sympathetic ganglia develop next to major branches of the aorta
Where do the postganglionic sympathetic axons innervate?
Postganglionic sympathetic axons innervate the same tissues that the arteries supply with blood
Explain the sympathetic innervation of the gut
Celiac ganglion - foregut
Superior mesenteric ganglion - midgut
Inferior mesenteric ganglion - hindgut
How does the stomach develop from the gut tube?
Stomach arises by expansion and rotation
During week 4 at the level where the stomach will form the tube begins to dilate, forming an enlarged lumen
Explain the development of the stomach from the gut tube
Initially concave ventral, convex dorsal
90°turn about craniocaudal axis
The dorsal border grows more rapidly than ventral, which establishes the greater curvature of the stomach