BGDB Gastrointestinal - Activity 4
Practical 1: Activity 1 | Activity 2 | Activity 3 | Activity 4 |
Learning Activity 4
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Gastroschisis |
1. Fetal and Postnatal Changes
Intestinal Length Growth
Small Intestine length (mm)
Amniotic Fluid Swallowing
- required for lung development.
- enables movement and symmetrical musculoskeletal development.
- maintains relatively constant temperature.
- protects by cushioning sudden blows or movements.
Volume - increases as the fetus grows.
- 34 weeks (GA) - peaks at about 800 mL.
- 40 weeks (GA) - about 600 mL at term.
- circulated by fetal inhaling and swallowing.
- replacing by fetal exhalation and urination.
- low magnesium levels associated with preeclampsia and diabetes.
In early embryonic development both the buccopharyngeal and cloacal membranes degenerated, allowing the GIT to be filled with amniotic fluid. Towards the end of the fetal period the fetus is now swallowing approximately 500 ml of amniotic fluid / day.
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This swallowed amniotic fluid moves through the GIT from esophagus, to stomach, to small intestine, stopping at the large bowel. In the large bowel the majority of fluid (water) is absorbed, along with electrolytes, glucose, urea and hormones. This process may contribute to fetal nutrition and prepare the GIT for its postnatal function. The process of swallowing amniotic fluid has been suggested to also help regulate fluid volume.
Fetal Meconium
- Mixture of substances (debris, glandular secretions, fatty material and bile pigments) that accumulate in the large bowel (green fecal material).
- Will form the neonatal meconium which is the first (usually within 24h to 48h) postnatal excretion from the GIT.
- If no discharge (bowel motion) is observed in this early period it can be indicative of an abnormality of the GIT.
- The first stool (meconium) is passed within 24 hours in most healthy term infants.
Gut Microorganism Population
The normal newborn gastrointestinal tract contains little if any microorganisms (commensal intestinal microbiota, microbiota, flora, microflora). Postnatally, the tract has to be populated by microorganisms, which are mainly anaerobic bacteria and then aerobic bacteria, but may also include yeast and fungi. The foregut comparatively has few microorganisms when compared to the midgut and hindgut.
Infections
There are several infectious pathogens that can also populate the postnatal gut leading to a number of different diseases:
- Gastroenteritis - (acute infectious enteritis) Occurs in children and is generally viral (rotavirus) rather than bacterial. By 5 years of age, nearly every child worldwide will have had at least one episode of rotavirus gastroenteritis. Note that maternal gastroenteritis during pregnancy can also affect birthweight.
- Escherichia coli (enterotoxigenic)
- Shigella a gram-negative, non-spore forming rod-shaped bacteria infectious through poor hygeine and ingestion, fecal–oral contamination. (More? Dysentery)
- Vibrio cholerae
- Listeria
2. Common Abnormalities
Gastrointestinal Tract Defects of all notifiable birth defects in Australia (1981-1992)
The table below shows the most recent ICD-11 coding for congenital gastrointestinal abnormalities.
ICD-11 Structural developmental anomalies of the digestive tract |
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LB10 Structural developmental anomalies of salivary glands or ducts | LB11 Congenital diverticulum of pharynx | LB12 Structural developmental anomalies of oesophagus | LB13 Structural developmental anomalies of stomach | LB14 Structural developmental anomalies of duodenum | LB15 Structural developmental anomalies of small intestine | LB16 Structural developmental anomalies of large intestine | LB17 Structural developmental anomalies of anal canal | LB18 Congenital anomalies of intestinal fixation | Structural developmental anomalies of the liver, biliary tract, pancreas or spleen | Inborn Errors of Metabolism |
gastrointestinal abnormalities |
- What is oesophageal atresia (EA) and what are the possible developmental causes?
- What is the most common gastrointestinal motility abnormality of the newborn?
3. Gut Diagnostics
Heelprick Test
Guthrie test is a neonatal blood test to detect aa number of different congenital abnormalities, including metabolic disorders.
Practical 1: Activity 1 | Activity 2 | Activity 3 | Activity 4 |
Additional Information
Additional Information - Content shown under this heading is not part of the material covered in this class. It is provided for those students who would like to know about some concepts or current research in topics related to the current class page. |
- For more detailed descriptions see gastrointestinal abnormalities.
- Meconium Aspiration - can occur near term or at delivery, if meconiumis discharged into the amiotic fluid (meconium stained amniotic fluid) and then injested by the fetus as it swallows amiotic fluid. Can then lead to meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS), meconium is drawn into the fetal/newborn lungs, causing inflammation, cell death and potentially perinatal death. Meconium can also damage the placenta and associated blood vessels.
- Polyhydramnios - (hydramnios, amniotic fluid disorder) refers to abnormally high amniotic fluid levels.
- Elliott EJ & Dalby-Payne JR. (2004). 2. Acute infectious diarrhoea and dehydration in children. Med. J. Aust. , 181, 565-70. PMID: 15540971
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Gastrointestinal Tract Terms | ||
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Cite this page: Hill, M.A. (2024, April 23) Embryology BGDB Gastrointestinal - Activity 4. Retrieved from https://embryology.med.unsw.edu.au/embryology/index.php/BGDB_Gastrointestinal_-_Activity_4
- © Dr Mark Hill 2024, UNSW Embryology ISBN: 978 0 7334 2609 4 - UNSW CRICOS Provider Code No. 00098G