Gastrointestinal - Embryology and Anatomy Flashcards
1
Q
GI embryology
- Foregut
- Midgut
- Hindgut
- Developmental defects of anterior abdominal wall due to failure of:
- Rostral fold closure
- Lateral fold closure
- Caudal fold closure
A
- Foregut
- Pharynx to duodenum.
- Midgut
- Duodenum to proximal 2/3 of transverse colon.
- Hindgut
- Distal 1/3 of transverse colon to anal canal above pectinate line.
- Developmental defects of anterior abdominal wall due to failure of:
- Rostral fold closure: sternal defects
- Lateral fold closure: omphalocele, gastroschisis
- Caudal fold closure: bladder exstrophy
2
Q
GI embryology
- Pathology
- Duodenal atresia
- Jejunal, ileal, colonic atresia
- Midgut development
- Gastroschisis
- Omphalocele
A
- Pathology
- Malrotation of midgut, omphalocele, intestinal atresia or stenosis, volvulus.
- Duodenal atresia
- Failure to recanalize (trisomy 21).
- Jejunal, ileal, colonic atresia
- Due to vascular accident (apple peel atresia).
- Midgut development
- 6th week—midgut herniates through umbilical ring
- 10th week—returns to abdominal cavity + rotates around SMA
-
Gastroschisis
- Extrusion of abdominal contents through abdominal folds
- Not covered by peritoneum.
-
Omphalocele**
- Persistence of herniation of abdominal contents into umbilical cord, sealed by peritoneum [A].
3
Q
Tracheoesophageal anomalies
- Most common
- Clinical test
- H-type vs. pure
A
- Esophageal atresia (EA) with distal tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) is the most common (85%).
- Results in drooling, choking, and vomiting with first feeding.
- TEF allows air to enter stomach (visible on CXR).
- Cyanosis is 2° to laryngospasm (to avoid reflux-related aspiration).
- Clinical test
- Failure to pass nasogastric tube into stomach.
- H-type vs. pure
- In H-type it is a fistula alone.
- In pure atresia (isolated) EA the CXR shows gasless abdomen.
4
Q
Congenital pyloric stenosis
A
- Hypertrophy of the pylorus causes obstruction.
- Occurs in 1/600 live births, more often in firstborn males.
- Palpable “olive” mass in epigastric region and nonbilious projectile vomiting at ≈2–6 weeks old.
- Treatment is surgical incision.
5
Q
Pancreas and spleen embryology
- Pancreas
- Annular pancreas
- Pancreas divisum
- Spleen
A
- Pancreas
- Derived from foregut.
- Ventral pancreatic buds contribute to the pancreatic head and main pancreatic duct.
- The uncinate process is formed by the ventral bud alone.
- The dorsal pancreatic bud becomes everything else (body, tail, isthmus, and accessory pancreatic duct).
-
Annular pancreas
- Ventral pancreatic bud abnormally encircles 2nd part of duodenum
- Forms a ring of pancreatic tissue that may cause duodenal narrowing.
-
Pancreas divisum
- Ventral and dorsal parts fail to fuse at 8 weeks.
- Spleen
- Arises in mesentery of stomach (hence is mesodermal) but is supplied by foregut (celiac artery).
6
Q
Retroperitoneal structures
- Retroperitoneal structures
- Injuries to retroperitoneal structures
A
- Retroperitoneal structures include GI structures that lack a mesentery and non-GI structures.
- A DUCK PEAR
- Adrenal glands (suprarenal)
- Duodenum (2nd through 4th parts)
- Ureters
- Colon (asecnding & descending)
- Kidneys
- Pancreas (except tail)
- Esophagus (lower 2/3)
- Aorta and IVC
- Rectum (partially)
- Injuries to retroperitoneal structures can cause blood or gas accumulation in retroperitoneal space.
7
Q
Falciform ligament
- Connects…
- Structures contained
- Notes
A
- Connects…
- Liver to anterior abdominal wall
- Structures contained
- Ligamentum teres hepatis (derivative of fetal umbilical vein)
- Notes
- Derivative of ventral mesentery
8
Q
Hepatoduodenal ligament
- Connects…
- Structures contained
- Notes
A
- Connects…
- Liver to duodenum
- Structures contained
- Portal triad: proper hepatic artery, portal vein, common bile duct
- Notes
- Pringle maneuver—ligament may be compressed between thumb and index finger placed in omental foramen to control bleeding
- Borders the omental foramen, which connects the greater and lesser sacs
9
Q
Gastrohepatic ligament
- Connects…
- Structures contained
- Notes
A
- Connects…
- Liver to lesser curvature of stomach
- Structures contained
- Gastric arteries
- Notes
- Separates greater and lesser sacs on the right
- May be cut during surgery to access lesser sac
10
Q
Gastrocolic ligament
- Connects…
- Structures contained
- Notes
A
- Connects…
- Greater curvature and transverse colon
- Structures contained
- Gastroepiploic arteries
- Notes
- Part of greater omentum
11
Q
Gastrosplenic ligament
- Connects…
- Structures contained
- Notes
A
- Connects…
- Greater curvature and spleen
- Structures contained
- Short gastrics, left gastroepiploic vessels
- Notes
- Separates greater and lesser sacs on the left
12
Q
Splenorenal ligament
- Connects…
- Structures contained
A
- Connects…
- Spleen to posterior abdominal wall
- Structures contained
- Splenic artery and vein, tail of pancreas
13
Q
Digestive tract anatomy
- Layers of gut wall
- Ulcers vs. erosions
- Frequencies of basal electric rhythm
- Stomach
- Duodenum
- Ileum
A
- Layers of gut wall (inside to outside—MSMS):
- Mucosa—epithelium (absorption), lamina propria (support), muscularis mucosa (motility)
- Submucosa—includes Submucosal nerve plexus (Meissner)
- Muscularis externa—includes Myenteric nerve plexus (Auerbach)
- Serosa (when intraperitoneal)/adventitia (when retroperitoneal)
- Ulcers vs. erosions
- Ulcers can extend into submucosa, inner or outer muscular layer.
- Erosions are in the mucosa only.
- Frequencies of basal electric rhythm (slow waves):
- Stomach—3 waves/min
- Duodenum—12 waves/min
- Ileum—8–9 waves/min
14
Q
Digestive tract histology
- Esophagus
- Stomach
- Duodenum
- Jejunum
- Ileum
- Colon
A
- Esophagus
- Nonkeratinized stratified squamous epithelium.
- Stomach
- Gastric glands.
- Duodenum
- Villi and microvilli increase absorptive surface.
- Brunner glands (submucosa) and crypts of Lieberkühn.
- Jejunum
- Plicae circulares and crypts of Lieberkühn.
- Ileum
- Peyer patches (lamina propria, submucosa), plicae circulares (proximal ileum), and crypts of Lieberkühn.
- Largest number of goblet cells in the small intestine.
- Colon
- Colon has crypts of Lieberkühn but no villi.
- Numerous goblet cells.
15
Q
Abdominal aorta and branches
- Arteries supplying…
- GI structures branch…
- Non-GI structures branch…
- Superior mesenteric artery (SMA) syndrome
A
- Arteries supplying…
- GI structures branch anteriorly.
- Non-GI structures branch laterally.
- Superior mesenteric artery (SMA) syndrome
- Occurs when the transverse portion (third segment) of the duodenum is entrapped between SMA and aorta, causing intestinal obstruction.