Gregorio. Ledesma. Pineda.

 Most of the digestive system (except for the

majority of the oral cavity and anal canal, and some
of the salivary glands) develops from the primitive
gut, which was created by the folding of the
trilaminar embryonic disc to form the embryo
proper during the 4th week.

 Formation of the primitive gut yields one of the

principal features of the vertebrate body plan - a
tube within a tube.

 Later development of the gut during
the embryonic period (gut rotation and
development of accessory glands and organs) will
produce exceptions to another principal feature of
the vertebrate body plan - bilateral symmetry.

 Another interesting feature of further

development of the primitive gut is its cranial-to-
caudal progression.
 The early digestive system consists of a relatively
simple tube that is bounded at the cranial end of
the foregut by the degenerating oral plate and at
the caudal end of the hind gut by the still intact
cloacal membrane.

 The midgut retains an open ventral connection

with the yolk sac through the yolk stalk.
 Further development of the gut involves the
process of elongation, herniation of part of the gut
into the body stalk, rotation of several local
regions of gut, and finally histogenesis and
functional maturation.

abnormal protrusion
 The mucosal epithelium and associated glands of
the gastrointestinal tract develop from endoderm.

 The connective tissue, muscle and mesothelium

are derived from splanchnic mesoderm.

 The enteric nervous system develops from neural

crest cells.
 Embryo formation by
folding of the trilaminar
embryo in the 4th week
creates the primitive gut.
 Simultaneously, the

connection between the

primitive gut and the
dorsal body wall thins to
form a dorsal mesentery
(and dorsal
mesogastrium).
Lateral folding of the splanchnopleure
results in a midline tube along an anterior-
posterior axis, and lateral folding of the
somatopleure closes the body wall
creating the peritoneum from trapped
intra- and extra-embryonic coelom.
Cranial folding of the embryo brings the
anterior end of the embryonic disk down
to the level of the distal end of the foregut,
where it forms the septum transversum,
and the prechordal plate to the cranial end
of the primitive gut, where it forms the
oropharyngeal (or buccopharyngeal)
membrane.
The septum transversum
becomes the central
tendon of
the diaphragm and the
ventral mesogastrium.
After it is invaded by
the liver bud, the ventral
mesogastrium gives rise
to the falciform
ligament, capsule of the
liver, and lesser
broad and thin antero-

omentum. posterior peritoneal

fold w/c attaches the
liver to the anterior
body wall.
Caudal folding
of the
embryo
places a
cloacal
membrane at
the terminal
end of the
primitive gut.
 The foregut can be further divided into:

Cranial Foregut
Caudal Foregut
 The cranial foregut, or pharyngeal gut, extends
from the oropharyngeal membrane to (and
includes) the respiratory diverticulum (lung bud).

 The derivatives of the pharyngeal gut include part

of mouth and tongue, pharynx, thyroid,
parathyroid, thymus, lower respiratory tract,
and lungs. 
 The pharyngeal gut and stomodaeum both
contribute to development of the mouth. The
stomodaeum is an ectodermal depression in the
developing face that forms the primordial mouth.

 After the oropharyngeal membrane, which

separates the stomodaeum from the pharyngeal
gut ruptures in the 5th week, the stomodaeum
connects the amniotic cavity and the pharyngeal
gut. 
 Pharyngeal ("branchial") arches appear during the
4th and 5th weeks on the ventral side of the
pharyngeal gut. Each arch has cartilage, a cranial
nerve, an aortic arch artery and muscle. Pharyngeal
clefts and pouches are located between the
arches. 
 outpocketings of
endodermal lining
of the primary
pharynx (extends
from the
buccopharyngeal
membrane to the
tracheobronchial
diverticulum)
First pharyngeal pouch:
 distal portion: widen into a sac-like structure-

middle ear cavity, the branchial membrane form

tympanic membrane or eardrum
 proximal part: remain narrow to form the

pharyngotympanic or Eustachian tube

Second pharyngeal pouch:
 distal portion: obliterated
 remaining part proliferate and form primordium of

the palatine tonsil

Third pharyngeal pouch:
 dorsal portion: differentiates into inferior
parathyroid gland
 ventral part: cells differentiates and form two cell
cords, fuse with each other behind the thorax to
give rise to the primordium of the thymus
Fourth pharyngeal pouch:
 dorsal portion: forms superior parathyroid gland
 ventral portion: degenerates

Fifth pharyngeal pouch:

 gives rise to the ultimobranchial body, immigrate
into thyroid and differentiate into parafollicular
cells
 thyroid primordium: by the 4th week, endodermal
proliferation of the floor of primitive pharynx,
then descends in front of the primitive pharynx as
a bilobed diverticulum

 thyroglossal duct: a narrow canal connecting

primitive pharynx with thyroid primordium, by the
6th week, becomes solid and disappears.
 a cystic remnant of the thyroglossal duct, may be
found at any point along the migratory path
followed by the thyroid gland

 sometimes a thyroglossal cyst is connected to the

outside by a fistulous canal, called thyroglossal
fistula (abnormal connection)
 The caudal foregut, sometimes simply called the
foregut, begins after the respiratory diverticulum
and extends to (and includes) the hepatocystic
diverticulum.

 The derivatives of the caudal foregut

include: esophagus, stomach, proximal
duodenum, liver, gall bladder, hepatic and bile
ducts, and pancreas.
 Is derived from primitive gut extending from the
laryngotracheal diverticulum to stomach

 With the descent of the heart and lungs, it

lengthens rapidly

 The esophagus lengthens both prenatally and

postnatally.
 muscular coat formed by surrounding
mesenchyme gradually becomes concentrated
about the original epithelial tube.
◦ striated in upper two-thirds
◦ smooth in lower one-third

 The primitive gut gives rise ventrally to the

tracheal outgrowth
 The original endodermal lining of the primitive gut
gives rise only to the epithelial lining of the
esophagus and its glands

 During the seventh and eighth embryonic weeks,

the human esophageal epithelium proliferates and
nearly blocks the lumen.
 The region of the primitive gut destined to become
the stomach is more or less clearly marked by
dilation.

 If one looks at the stomach down the line of the

esophagus, it rotates approximately 900, so that
the originally dorsal convex border is now left and
the ventral concave border is facing right.
 At about 4 weeks, the stomach is a dilatation of
the foregut.

 In the 5th week, the stomach rotates 90° around

its longitudinal axis so that the original dorsal side
becomes the left side.
 In the 6th week, the left side grows faster than the
right, creating the greater and lesser curvatures.

 In the 7th week, further growth of the stomach

gives the appearance of rotation around the
dorsal-ventral axis, moving the distal foregut to the
right.
 The pyloric (caudal) end of the stomach tips
somewhat cranially, so that stomach is aligned
diagonally across the body.

 As the rotation of the stomach is occurring, the

dorsal mesogastrium to which it is attached swings
out with it, forming the pouchlike omental bursa.
 Both the tail of the pancreas and the spleen are
embedded in the dorsal mesogastrium. The
stomach also retains an intact portion of the
primitive ventral mesentery which encloses the
massive liver.
 The midgut is divided into two regions at the
omphalo-enteric duct ("yolk stalk"): the cranial and
caudal limbs.

◦ The derivatives of the cranial limb include the distal

duodenum, jejunum, and proximal ileum.

◦ The derivatives of the caudal limb include the distal

ileum, caecum, appendix, ascending colon, and proximal
2/3 of transverse colon. 
midgut loop:
 by 5th week, midgut grow rapidly to form a “U”-
shaped loop, its apex connects with yolk sac by
way of the narrow vitelline duct

 The length of the midgut grows faster than that of

the embryo, creating a gut "loop", with the
omphalo-enteric (vitelline) duct at the apex.
 In the 6th week, the
midgut enters the
extraembryonic coelom
of the developing
umbilical cord
(physiological umbilical
herniation). At this time,
the omphalo-enteric
duct closes and the
entire midgut loop
rotates 90°.
midgut loop rotates 90° around an axis formed by the superior mesenteric artery in a
counterclockwise direction, move cephalic limb to right, caudal limb left
 Human embryo in the
7th week showing the
physiological umbilical
herniation of the
midgut into the extra-
embryonic coelom
(chorionic cavity
remnant) within the
developing umbilical
cord. Note the midgut
loop has rotated 90°.
 In the 10th week, the midgut returns to the
abdomen, and rotates further (180° as measured at
the apex of the loop).

 After the midgut returns to the abdomen, there is

shortening of some segments of the mesentery
with fixation of three intestinal segments to the
posterior abdominal wall
 a conical dilation of the caudal limb, form caecum
and appendix
 The yolk stalk connects
with the gut at the bend
of the hairpin-shaped
loop and forms an
excellent point of
orientation in following
the series of kinking and
foldings by which the
definitive configuration
of the intestinal tract is
established.
 The attachment of the yolk stalk is just cephalic to
what will be the point of transition from small to
large intestine.

 The initial twisting is the primary factor in

establishing the fundamental positional relations
of the large and small intestines
 The coiling of the small intestine begins soon after
the primary twist in the gut loop has occurred.

 The portion of the cephalic limb of the primary

loop which emerges below the transverse colon is
destined to become the jejunum and ileum.

 The intestinal epithelium begins a phase of rapid

proliferation early in the second month.
duodenum formation:
 formed by terminal part of foregut and the
cephalic part of the midgut
 retroperitoneal “C”-shaped loop ventrally rotates
to the right
 The aggregation of mesodermal cells begin to
invade the stratified intestinal epithelium, which is
developing small secondary lumina beneath its
surface.
 The coalescence of the secondary lumina and
continued mesodermal outgrowth result in the
formation of the minute fingerlike intestinal villi,
which greatly increase the absorptive surface of
the intestine
 The period of differentiation of specific epithelial
cell types begins at the time when villi form
The alimentary system at about 6 weeks showing the midgut loop.
The alimentary system showing the mature
pattern of arrangement of the intestines,
and superior and inferior mesenteric
arteries
 The distal portion of the hepatic cords give rise to
the secretory tubules of the liver, and their
proximal portion from the hepatic ducts.

 The branching and connecting tubules which are

distal continuations of the hepatic ducts constitute
the actively secreting portion of the liver.
 hepatic diverticulum: by beginning of 4th week,
endodermal proliferation of end of the foregut

 hepatic diverticulum extends into the septum

transversum and divides into a large cephalic and a
small caudal part

 cephalic part cells proliferate to give rise to hepatic

cord and bile duct

 cystic diverticulum(caudal part): develop into gall

bladder and cystic duct
 The paired vitelline veins and umbilical vein form
hepatic sinusoids

 At about 6th week, blood stem cell immigrate into

liver from yolk sac, hemopoiesis begin.

 The postnatal liver is the first organ to receive

blood rich in protein, carbohydrate and fat
metabolism absorbed through the intestinal walls.

RBC formation
 The liver bud
(hepatocystic
diverticulum) appears
at the distal end of the
foregut at 4 weeks;
the hepatic and cystic
diverticula, hepatic
sinusoids and dorsal
pancreas at 4 ½ weeks
and the ventral
pancreas at 5 weeks;
Abdomen of an embryo showing growth of the liver within the
septum transversum during the 5th week
 It is derived from two separate primordia which
later become fused.
 One primordium arises dorsally, directly from the

duodenal endoderm; the other arises ventrally,

from the endoderm of the hepatic diverticulum.
 When the duodenum rotates, the ventral

pancreatic bud is carried into the dorsal mesentery,

where it approaches and ultimately fuses with a
portion of the more extensive dorsal pancreas.
 dorsal pancreatic bud and ventral pancreatic bud:
by the end of 4th week, arise from the endoderm of
caudal part of the foregut

 dorsal pancreas, ventral pancreas: pancreatic buds

cells proliferate to give rise to acinus and ducts
 The ventral pancreas rotates to right-dorsal
direction and fuse with dorsal pancreas

 The ventral pancreas forms the inferior part of the

head of the pancreas; dorsal pancreas forms other
part of pancreas
 At 6 weeks, the pancreatic components meet and
fuse.

The ventral and dorsal pancreases Fusion of the ventral and dorsal pancreases
approach each other during the 6th at about 6 weeks.
week. 
 The appearance of the pancreas is the result of a
coordinated interplay between localized
endodermal cells and their surrounding
mesenchyme.

 Mature pancreas consists of an exocrine and

endocrine portion, the latter being embodied by
the islets of Langerhans
 The hindgut is the distal segment of the primitive
gut from the junction with the midgut to the
cloacal membrane. The distal end of the hindgut is
called the cloaca. Caudal to the cloaca, there is a
temporary extension of the embryonic hindgut
known as the tail gut (or postanal gut).

 Derivatives of the hindgut include the distal 1/3 of

the transverse colon, descending colon, sigmoid
colon, rectum and anal canal above the pectinate
line, urinary bladder, and proximal urethra.
 Division of the cloaca starts with formation of a
urorectal septum. The urorectal septum begins as
mesoderm around the allantoic diverticulum that,
as it grows (beginning in the 5th week), divides the
cloaca into a ventral primitive urogenital sinus and
a dorsal primitive anorectal canal. The cloacal
membrane breaks down in the 7th week, before
the urorectal septum reaches it.
The caudal end of a human embryo in the 5th week, showing the
cloaca prior to growth of the urorectal septum. Note also the The cloaca at about 5 weeks, showing
presence of the frequently overlooked tail (or postanal) gut early growth of the urorectal septum.
 The caudal end of a human fetus at about 9
The caudal end of a human embryo at about 6 weeks showing complete division of the cloaca,
weeks, showing division of most of the cloaca. forming the primitive urogenital sinus and
Note also the obliteration of the tail-gut.  primitive anorectal canal.
 Foregut
◦ (Cranial): tongue, pharynx, thyroid, parathyroid, thymus, lower
respiratory tract, and lungs
◦ (Caudal): esophagus, stomach, proximal duodenum, liver, gall
bladder, hepatic and bile ducts, and pancreas.

 Midgut
◦ (Cranial): distal duodenum, jejunum, and proximal ileum
◦ (Caudal): distal ileum, caecum, appendix, ascending colon, and
proximal 2/3 of transverse colon

 Hindgut: distal 1/3 of the transverse colon, descending

colon, sigmoid colon, rectum and anal canal above the
pectinate line, urinary bladder, and proximal urethra.