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[Human ontogeny of the left colon. Fetal stage]

J P Richer1, M Sakka

  • 1Laboratoire d'Anatomie, Faculté de Médecine, Poitiers.

Bulletin De L'Association Des Anatomistes
|June 1, 1994
PubMed

Insights

Fetal bowel development involves unequal segment growth and abdominal pressure. Left colon peritoneal fusion occurs between 12-17 weeks gestation, with fixation progressing towards the sigmoid mesocolon.

Area of Science:

  • Embryology
  • Gastrointestinal Development
  • Anatomy

Context:

  • Fetal intestinal development is complex, influenced by growth dynamics and anatomical constraints.
  • Understanding the precise sequence of peritoneal fusion is crucial for diagnosing congenital anomalies.

Purpose:

  • To describe the process of dorsal peritoneal fusion in the developing fetal left colon.
  • To detail the timeline and anatomical landmarks of left colon fixation during gestation.

Summary:

  • Observations in 20 fetuses reveal left colon peritoneal fusion begins dorsally between 12 and 17 weeks.
  • This fusion progresses radially, with initial fixation at the left kidney and eventual fusion up to the sigmoid mesocolon, obliterating an early-stage tunnel.

Impact:

  • Provides detailed insights into the normal embryological development of the fetal gastrointestinal tract.
  • Establishes a histological and anatomical basis for understanding malrotation and other congenital anomalies of the colon.

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