General comparative anatomy of human and white rat digestive systems: a bibliographic analysis

Introduction: The gastrointestinal tract of humans has much in common with most species of laboratory animals, particularly at the level of microscopic study. White rats are widely used in the experiments to determine the influence of the environmental factors on the human. The aim: Study the general comparative anatomy of the digestive system of the human and the white rat through the bibliographic analysis of the publications.

Materials and methods: Current scientific publications on the study of the human and the white rat gastrointestinal tract morphology were used as the material for the research by analyzing, synthesizing and generalizing the information obtained.

Review and conclusions: Generally, the anatomical structure of the white rat digestive system is similar to the human one. Phylogenetically, the digestive systems of humans and rats are the homologous functional system that are much in common regarding the structure and functions of the organs, the significance of which is in the perception, mechanical and chemical (enzymatic) digestion and absorption of the nutrients into the body.