270 - Embryology Physiology) Development & Embryology of The GI Tract - Part 1

Last edited: 8/5/2021
12. DEVELOPMENT OF THE GIT PART 1

Development of the GIT Part 1 Medical Editor: Jan Camille Santico
OUTLINE II) EMBRYONIC FOLDING
I) TRILAMINAR DISC (A) SAGITTAL PLANE

II) EMBRYONIC FOLDING
III) REVIEW QUESTIONS
IV) REFRENCES
I) TRILAMINAR DISC
At the 3 week of development, the embryo is a
rd
trilaminar disc
o Made up ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm
Figure 2. Sagittal Plane of Embryo
Underneath the surface ectoderm is the neural tube and
notochord The sagittal view shows the cranial and caudal ends of
Flanking the notochord is the intraembryonic mesoderm, the gut tube
which can be divided into: During the 4th week of development, folding along the
o Paraxial mesoderm sagittal plane will form the cranial and caudal folds
o Intermediate mesoderm o The endoderm lining will expand outwards and fold
o Lateral plate mesoderm The gut tube can be divided into three parts:
 Somatic layer o Cranial – foregut
 Splanchnic layer o Middle – midgut
Underneath the mesoderm is the endoderm, which forms o Caudal – hindgut
the epithelial lining of the gastrointestinal organs, Mesoderm surrounds the gut tube
accessary organs, and glands o Mesoderm cells at the cranial end will help form the
Above the ectoderm is the amniotic sac pericardiac cavity and the heart
Below the endoderm is the yolk sac, which helps in the
Neural crest cells from the ectoderm layer will develop
synthesis of red blood cells
into important ganglia for the GIT (e.g. myenteric plexus)
o The yolk sac also secretes the extraembryonic
The yolk sac is connected to the midgut via the
mesoderm, which surrounds the yolk sac and
vitelline/omphalomesenteric duct
amniotic cavity
The two openings of the digestive tract are derived from
The somatic and splanchnic mesoderm develop a cavity areas of fusion between the ectoderm and endoderm (of
called the intraembryonic coelom, which allows the two the gut tube)
mesoderm layers to become continuous with the o The oropharyngeal membrane (foregut) will
extraembryonic mesoderm perforate to form the mouth
Eventually, the embryo will fold along the transverse and o The cloacal membrane (hindgut) will perforate to
sagittal plane form the urogenital tract and anus
By the 6th week of development, the vitelline duct will
obliterate, leaving the umbilical cord
o Meckel’s Diverticulum
 An outpouching of the small intestine
 Results from the failure of the vitelline duct to
obliterate, leaving behind a connection between
the midgut and the anterior abdominal wall
Also during the 6th week, the small intestines will form a
loop and herniate through the umbilical cord
o The developing organs within the abdominal cavity
push out the small intestines
During the 11th week, the abdominal cavity has increased
in size, so the intestinal loop is pulled back in
Figure 1. Trilaminar Disc o Omphalocele
 Results from the failure of the intestinal loop to
return inside the abdominal cavity
 Can be detected through fetal ultrasound or serum
alpha fetoprotein levels of the mother
Development of the GIT Part 1 EMBRYOLOGY: Note #1. 1 of 3

(B) TRANSVERSE PLANE (2) Retroperitoneal Organs
Retroperitoneal organs have no mesentery and are
located outside the peritoneum
Instead of visceral/parietal serosa, they have adventitia
o Dense, irregular fibrous connective tissue that
anchors retroperitoneal organs to the abdominal wall
o Does not provide mobility
Examples:
o Kidneys
o Adrenal glands
o Parts of the duodenum
(i) Primary Retroperitoneal Organs

• Organs which never had a mesentery
• Located posterior to the peritoneum
• Examples:
o Abdominal aorta
o Inferior vena cava
o Adrenal glands
o Kidneys
o Ureter
o Bladder
Figure 3. Transverse Plane of Embryo o Lower rectum
• The transverse plane shows a cross-section of the o Esophagus
embryo
(ii) Secondary Retroperitoneal Organs
• The endoderm will fold outwards and downwards. It will
get sucked in and pushed out, forming the vitelline duct • Organs with mesenteries that were obliterated
• The amniotic cavity starts folding down • Examples:
• The splanchnic mesoderm will surround the vitelline duct o 2nd, 3rd, and 4th parts of the duodenum
and yolk sac o Ascending colon
• The somatic mesoderm will line the inner walls of the o Descending colon
amniotic cavity o Head and body of the pancreas
• Once the vitelline duct obliterates, the two endoderm
folds can merge, forming a closed gut tube
o Gastroschisis
 The lateral folds fail to fuse, resulting in the
herniation of abdominal contents
 The herniated intestines are not covered in
peritoneum, which could irritate the abdominal
cavity
(1) Intraperitoneal Organs
The splanchnic mesoderm will surround the gut tube,
forming a part of the GI tract (submucosa up to visceral
peritoneum)
The somatic mesoderm will line the inner walls of the
abdominal cavity (parietal peritoneum)
The visceral and parietal peritoneum connect/meet at the Figure 5. Retroperitoneal Organs
mesenteries, a ligament which connects
organs/structures to the abdominal wall and provides
mobility
Any organ with a mesentery is considered intraperitoneal
Examples:
o Stomach
o Liver
o Spleen
o Transverse colon
Figure 4. Intraperitoneal Organs

2 of 3 EMBRYOLOGY: Note #12. Development of the GIT Part 1
III) REVIEW QUESTIONS
1) Meckel’s diverticulum results from ____

a) Failure of the endodermal folds to fuse
b) Failure of the vitelline duct to form
c) Failure of the vitelline duct to regress
d) Failure of the intestinal loop to return inside the
abdominal cavity
2) Which structure secretes the extraembryonic

mesoderm?
a) Yolk sac
b) Amniotic sac
c) Notochord
d) Intraembryonic coelom
3) All of the following structures are intraperitoneal,

EXCEPT
a) Stomach
b) Jejunum
c) Transverse Colon
d) Ascending Colon
4) Which of the following statements is TRUE?

a) Omphalocele results from the failure of the lateral
endodermal folds to fuse
b) The liver is a retroperitoneal organ
c) The yolk sac is connected to the hindgut via the
vitelline duct.
d) Retroperitoneal organs are covered with adventitia
5) Which of the following is NOT a primary

retroperitoneal organ?
a) Adrenal gland
b) Pancreas
c) Bladder
d) Lower Rectum
CHECK YOUR ANSWERS
IV) REFRENCES
Development of the GIT Part 1 EMBRYOLOGY: Note #1. 3 of 3

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Last edited: 8/5/2021

12. DEVELOPMENT OF THE GIT PART 1

OUTLINE II) EMBRYONIC FOLDING

I) TRILAMINAR DISC (A) SAGITTAL PLANE

Development of the GIT Part 1 EMBRYOLOGY: Note #1. 1 of 3

(i) Primary Retroperitoneal Organs

Figure 4. Intraperitoneal Organs

1) Meckel’s diverticulum results from ____

2) Which structure secretes the extraembryonic

3) All of the following structures are intraperitoneal,

4) Which of the following statements is TRUE?

5) Which of the following is NOT a primary

CHECK YOUR ANSWERS

Development of the GIT Part 1 EMBRYOLOGY: Note #1. 3 of 3

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