THE GUT TUBE AND THE BODY CAVITIES

JEROME U. TAMAYAO, MST, LPT

During the third and fourth weeks the top layer (ectoderm)
of the trilaminar embryonic disc forms the neural plate
that rolls up into a tube to form the brain and spinal cord
by the process called neurulation. Almost
simultaneously, the ventral layer (endoderm) rolls down to
form the gut tube, such that the embryo consists of a tube
on top of a tube: the neural tube dorsally and the gut tube
ventrally (Fig. 7.1).

The middle layer (mesoderm) holds the two tubes

together and the lateral plate component of this
mesoderm layer also splits into visceral (splanchnic)
and parietal (somatic) layers. The visceral layer rolls
ventrally and is intimately connected to the gut
tube; the parietal layer, together with the overlying
ectoderm, forms the lateral body wall folds (one on
each side of the embryo), which move ventrally and
meet in the midline to close the ventral body wall
(Fig. 7.1).
 FORMATION OF THE BODY CAVITY
At the end of the third week, intraembryonic mesoderm
differentiates into paraxial mesoderm.

These folds consist of the parietal layer of lateral plate

mesoderm, overlying ectoderm, and cells from adjacent somites
that migrate into the mesoderm layer across the lateral somitic
frontier. As these folds progress, the endoderm layer also folds
ventrally and closes to form the gut tube. By the end of the
fourth week, the lateral body wall folds meet in the midline and
fuse to close the ventral body wall. This closure is aided by
growth of the head and tail regions (folds) that cause the
embryo to curve into the fetal position. Closure of the ventral
wall is complete except in the region of connecting stalk.
Similarly, closure of the gut tube is complete except for a
connection from the midgut region to the yolk sac called
vitelline duct. This duct is incorporated into the umbilical cord
and degenerate with the yolk sac between the second and third
months of gestation.
Lateral Folding of the Embryonic Disc
-Converts the flat disc into a tubular embryo
-Closes-off the intra-embryonic coelom
-Pinches-off the tubular gut from the yolk sac
-Expands amniotic cavity to surround embryo
Cross sections of the embryo (Syllabus page 31)

Adapted from: Langman's Medical Embryology

 The abdominopelvic cavity is lined with parietal peritoneum.
 The gut is covered with visceral peritoneum.
 Mesenteries are double layers of peritoneum that connect parietal and visceral layers.
 The space between parietal and visceral layers is called the peritoneal cavity.

Kidney

Aorta

Dorsal mesentery

Parietal peritoneum

Visceral peritoneum

Peritoneal cavity

Intraperitoneal gut
 Mesenteries suspend the gut and gut-associated organs
within the abdominopelvic cavity.
 Mesenteries DO NOT suspend the gut and gut-associated organs
within the peritoneal cavity.
 The peritoneal cavity normally contains nothing but a small amount of
fluid that moistens the surfaces of the peritoneum.
 The peritoneal cavity can expand to contain a large amount of
fluid under abnormal circumstances.
 Head to Tail Folding
The animation will start at ~21 days
and end at ~28 days.

Amniotic cavity
Head end Tail end

Yolk sac

Larsen Website
folding.avi
Head to Tail
Folding
Note that the
head folding causes
relocation of the
heart primordium
and the mesoderm
cranial to it. The
mesoderm cranial
to the heart becomes
the septum transversum
and is relocated from
a cranial to a thoracic
position. The septum
transversum (shown
in green) will form
an important part of
the diaphragm.
Adapted from:
Langman's Medical
Embryology
 Model of a 5-week embryo (left) and a cross section
at the level of the septum transversum (right). (Syllabus page 33)
Note the location of the pericardioperitoneal canals and the formation of the diaphragm.

Adapted from: Langman's Medical Embryology

DIAPHRAGM AND THORACIC CAVITY
The coelom is divided into thoracic and abdominal cavities by
Formation of the Diaphragm
Division of the Thoracic Cavity

Adapted from: Langman's Medical Embryology

 Diaphragmatic Hernia
•It is usually congenital (Bochdalek’s Hernia) and, if it is extensive, it is often
associated with severe hypoplasia of the lungs that becomes fatal at birth.
•It is more common on the left side of the body because the pericardioperitoneal
canal on the left tends to close later than that on the right.

From: Langman's Medical Embryology

 Head to Tail
Folding
and
Formation of
the Primitive Gut

Adapted from:
Langman's Medical
Embryology
 Head to Tail Folding
The animation will start at ~21 days
and end at ~28 days.

Amniotic cavity
Head end Tail end

Yolk sac

Larsen Website
folding.avi
 Formation of the Primitive Gut
resulting from
Head to Tail Folding

Endodermal sheet

Yolk sac
Starting at Ending at
~20 days ~26 days

Larsen Website
9-1.avi
 The abdominopelvic cavity is lined with parietal peritoneum.
 The gut is covered with visceral peritoneum.
 Mesenteries are double layers of peritoneum that connect parietal and visceral layers.
 The space between parietal and visceral layers is called the peritoneal cavity.

Kidney

Aorta

Dorsal mesentery

Parietal peritoneum

Visceral peritoneum

Peritoneal cavity

Intraperitoneal gut
 Mesenteries suspend the gut and gut-associated organs
within the abdominopelvic cavity.
 Mesenteries DO NOT suspend the gut and gut-associated organs
within the peritoneal cavity.
 The peritoneal cavity normally contains nothing but a small amount of
fluid that moistens the surfaces of the peritoneum.
 The peritoneal cavity can expand to contain a large amount of
fluid under abnormal circumstances.
 Derivatives of the ventral mesentery are shown in blue
and derivatives of the dorsal mesentery are shown in red.

From: Langman's Medical Embryology

 What are the adult derivatives of the primitive gut regions?
See syllabus pages 36-37.

Foregut becomes what?

Midgut becomes what?
Hindgut becomes what?

Adapted from:
Langman's Medical
Embryology