Midgut

Midgut
The midgut and hindgut.
Details
Carnegie stage	10
Precursor	Mesenchyme
Identifiers
Latin	Mesenteron
TE	E5.4.7.0.0.0.2
FMA	45617
Anatomical terminology [edit on Wikidata]

The midgut is the portion of the embryo from which most of the intestines develop. After it bends around the superior mesenteric artery, it is called the "midgut loop". It comprises the portion of the alimentary canal from the end of the foregut at the opening of the bile duct to the hindgut, about two-thirds of the way through the transverse colon.

Development

During development, the human midgut undergoes a rapid phase of growth in which the loop of midgut herniates outside of the abdominal cavity of the fetus and protrudes into the umbilical cord. This herniation is physiological (occurs normally). Later in development, the fetus's body catches up in size relative to the size of its own midgut and thereby creates adequate room in the abdominal cavity for the entirety of the midgut to reside. Thus, the midgut loops slips back out of the umbilical cord and the physiological hernia ceases to exist. This change coincides with the termination of the yolk sac and the counterclockwise rotation of the two limbs of the midgut loop around their combined central axis.^[1]

Structures in the adult midgut

• Duodenum (distal half of 2nd part, 3rd and 4th parts)
• Jejunum
• Ileum
• Cecum
• Appendix
• Ascending colon
• Hepatic flexure of colon
• Transverse colon (proximal two-thirds)

Vascular, lymphatics and innervation

Arterial supply to the midgut is from the superior mesenteric artery, an unpaired branch of the aorta. Venous drainage is to the portal venous system. Lymph from the midgut drains to prevertebral superior mesenteric nodes located at the origin of the superior mesenteric artery from the aorta. Portal drainage carries all non-lipid nutrients from digestion to the liver for processing and detoxification, while lymphatic drainage carries fatty chyle to the cisterna chyli. Autonomic innervation of the midgut is from the superior mesenteric plexus.

Clinical relevance

• Malrotation of the midgut during development can lead to volvulus.
• Pain in the midgut is referred to the umbilical region (around the umbilicus (belly button)).

There exist certain diseases in which this physiological hernia does not spontaneously resolve, thus creating pathology. The most common of these is omphalocele. In omphalocele, there is a defect in the development of the anterior abdominal wall. Thus, a permanent outpouching of peritoneum through the umbilicus exists, unless surgically corrected.

See also

• Foregut
• Hindgut

References

External links

• digest-020—Embryo Images at University of North Carolina
• radio/450 at eMedicine – "Midgut Volvulus"
• 00494 at CHORUS

• Umich.edu – development