M1207: Gastrointestinal System

Embryology lecture 01

Dr. Sampath Paththinige MBBS, MSc, PGCert(MedEd)

Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine & Allied Sciences, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka
 Objectives
At the end of the lecture the student should be able to,
1. describe the contribution of the cephalocaudal and lateral
folding of the embryo to the development of the gut tube
2. state the different parts of the embryonic gut tube and their
extent
3. state the derivatives of the foregut, midgut and the hindgut
4. correlate the arterial supply of the different parts of the
gastrointestinal system to their embryological origin
5. state the mesenteries of the primitive gut and describe their
fate during development
 Development of the gut tube

 Primitive gut tube is formed by incorporation of

the yolk sac into the embryo due to
cephalocaudal and lateral folding
 Part of the yolk sac remain outside the embryo
(without getting incorporated) – Connected to the gut
tube through Vitelline duct/ yolk stalk
 Cephalo-caudal folding of the embryo

Yolk sac Caudal

Cranial
Yolk sac

Cephalocaudal folding of the embryo

Gut tube
results in,
 Positioning of the heart tube in the
thoracic region
 Incorporation of yolk sac
into embryo forming the
Vitelline duct
gut tube and Yolk sac
 Lateral folding/ Rolling up of the embryo

Vitelline duct
Yolk sac Gut

Lateral folding of the embryo results in,

 Formation of intra-embryonic body cavity
 Incorporation of the yolk sac in to the embryo, forming the
endoderm lined gut tube
 Surface of the whole embryo gets lined by the ectoderm
 Endoderm forms the
epithelial lining and the
glands (including liver
and pancreas) of the
gut tube

 Visceral layer of lateral

plate mesoderm forms
the muscles,
connective tissues and
serosa (visceral
peritoneum) of gut wall
 Primitive gut tube

 The primitive gut extends between,

Buccopharyngeal membrane and cloacal membrane
 Divided into 4 regions

1. Pharyngeal gut

2. Foregut

3. Midgut

4. Hindgut
Primitive gut tube
State the
derivatives of the
four divisions of
the primitive gut
tube
 Derivatives of primitive gut tube
 Pharyngeal gut
 Pharynx and its diverticula
(e.g. thyroid, tonsils, etc.)

 Foregut
 Oesophagus, stomach and proximal
duodenum (up to major duodenal papilla)
 Trachea, bronchial tree, lungs
 Liver and biliary tree
 Pancreas
 Midgut
 Small intestine
(distal to major duodenal papilla)
 Proximal colon (up to junction
between right 2/3 and left 1/3)

 Hindgut
 Distal colon, rectum and anal canal
Embryological basis of blood supply of the gut tube

 Vitelline arteries supply the yolk sac

 When the yolk sac gets incorporated into the gut tube, the
vitelline arteries become the arteries of the gut tube
(i.e. Celiac , Superior mesenteric and Inferior mesenteric arteries)

Vitelline artery
Embryological basis of blood
supply of the gut tube Vitelline arteries

Celiac artery: Supplies distal foregut

Superior mesenteric artery:

Supplies the midgut

Inferior mesenteric artery:

Supplies the hindgut
Blood supply of the
Aorta
abdominal part of Esophagus
gastrointestinal system L/inferior phrenic a.
Celiac artery
Liver
Left gastric a.
R/inferior phrenic a.
Spleen
Superior mesenteric A. Stomach

Duodenum
Inferior
mesenteric a.
Jejunum and ileum
Descending colon
Ascending colon
  Describe the embryological basis of the arterial
supply of the duodenum
Gastroduodenal artery Proper hepatic artery
Superior pancreatico-
duodenal arteries Celiac artery
Splenic artery

Foregut

Major
duodenal
papilla
Superior mesenteric artery

Duodenum
Midgut Inferior pancreaticoduodenal arteries
  Describe the embryological basis of the arterial
supply of the colon

Ascending branch of left

Middle colic artery colic artery

Superior mesenteric a. Marginal artery

Right colic artery
Ileocolic artery
Inferior mesenteric a.
Ileal branch Left colic artery
Anterior cecal br. Sigmoidal arteries
Median sacral artery
Posterior cecal br.
Appendicular artery Left common iliac artery
Internal iliac artery
Superior rectal artery
Middle rectal arteries
Inferior rectal artery
 Mesenteries of the gut tube

Dorsal
During early development distal
foregut, midgut and the hindgut is
connected to posterior abdominal
wall by a tissue bridge derived
from visceral mesoderm
= Dorsal mesentery
– A double layer of peritoneum

Midgut/ hindgut
ventral
 Distal foregut has an additional connection with the anterior
abdominal wall = Ventral mesentery; derived from the
septum transversum
Dorsal
Surface ectoderm
Neural tube
Notochord
Developing aorta and IVC
Developing kidneys (intermediate mesoderm)
Dorsal mesentery
Distal foregut (Abd.oesophagus,
stomach, proximal duodenum)
Peritoneal cavity
Ventral mesentery
ventral
 Fate of mesenteries of the distal foregut
Ventral mesentery/ Ventral mesogastrium
 Liver develops within the ventral mesentery dividing it into,
 Lesser omentum
 Falciform ligament
 Some areas of the liver remain uncovered by the peritoneum
= Bare area of the liver, peritoneal reflections around the bare
area forms coronary ligaments and triangular ligaments

Dorsal mesentery/ Dorsal mesogastrium

 Spleen develops within dorsal mesentery dividing its upper part into,
 Gastrosplenic ligament / gastrolienal ligament
 Splenorenal ligament / lienorenal ligament
 Rest of the dorsal mesentery in this region forms the greater
omentum/ dorsal mesogastrium
 Dorsal
Fate of the ventral and
dorsal mesenteries

Splenorenal ligament
Spleen
Gastrosplenic lig.
Stomach
Lesser omentum
Liver
Falciform ligament

ventral
 Fate of the ventral and dorsal
Dorsal
mesenteries of the distal foregut
mesogastrium

Falciform Lesser Gastrosplenic

Stomach ligament omentum ligament

Liver
Left kidney

Splenorenal
ligament

Lesser sac
Spleen
Gastro-splenic
ligament
Stomach

Greater
omentum
 Liver Lesser sac
Falciform Abdominal aorta
ligament

Splenorenal
ligament
Spleen

Gastrosplenic
ligament
Foramen of Winslow Greater omentum
(opening to lesser sac)
Lesser sac extending into
Lesser greater omentum
omentum
 Fate of the ventral and dorsal mesenteries of the distal foregut

Falciform ligament
L/triangular lig.
R/Coronary lig.
Gastrophrenic lig.

R/triangular
ligament
Splenorenal
Lesser omentum ligament
Hepato-
duodenal lig.
Gastrosplenic
ligament

Greater omentum
 Bare area of the liver
Coronary and triangular ligaments of the liver
Caudate lobe
Falciform ligament
Inferior vena cava
Bare area of the liver
Left triangular ligament Anterior coronary ligament
Posterior coronary lig.

Right triangular
ligament
Right lobe of the liver
Left lobe of the liver
Neck
Body

Porta hepatic (and attachment Fundus

of lesser omentum) of the gallbladder
Quadrate lobe
Derivatives of the
dorsal mesentery

 Gastrosplenic and
gastrophrenic
ligaments
 Splenorenal ligament
 Greater omentum
 Mesentery proper
(for ileum and jejunum)
 Mesocolon (including
the mesoappendix)
 Intraperitoneal vs. Retroperitoneal organs

Intraperitoneal organs
 Organs entirely/ almost entirely covered
by visceral peritoneum
 Lies within the peritoneal cavity
 Most of them have a mesentery
 Areas not covered by peritoneum are
known as ‘bare areas’

Retroperitoneal organs
 Organs behind the peritoneum (covered by
the peritoneum only over the anterior aspect)
 Lies over posterior abdominal wall
 Dorsal mesentery of the duodenum, ascending colon,
descending colon and the rectum disappear and these organs
become retroperitoneal

They are known as

Secondarily retroperitoneal organs
Intraperitoneal and retroperitoneal structures in the abdomen

 Intraperitoneal (with  Primarily retroperitoneal

mesentery)  Kidneys, ureters
 Abdominal oesophagus  Suprarenal glands
 Stomach  Aorta
 1st part of duodenum  IVC
 Jejunum and Ileum  Secondarily retroperitoneal
 Transverse colon  Duodenum (except 1st part)
 Sigmoid colon  Ascending colon
 Liver  Descending colon
 Spleen  Upper rectum
 Tail of pancreas  Pancreas (except tail)

Pelvic organs located below the intraperitoneal space (e.g. Bladder, lower
rectum) are called "subperitoneal" or "infraperitoneal“ organs
Summary
“Do not wait until the conditions are
perfect to begin.

Beginning makes the conditions

perfect.”
Alan Cohen

Sampath