Topographical and biometrical anatomy of duodenum in prenatal goats

To record the morphogenesis of different segments of duodenum, a study was conducted on the duodenum of formalin fixed 36 non-descript goat embryos/foeti. Embryos/foeti were equally divided into 3 groups as Gr-I (early prenatal period), aged between 23 to 50 days of gestation, Gr-II (mid prenatal period) between 51 to 100 days of gestation and Gr-III (late prenatal period) between 101 days to till kidding. The morphological observations were recorded after performing dissection through ventral abdominal wall. The duodenum was first time demarcated from other segments of small intestine at 43 days of gestation. At 45 days of gestation, the duodenum was devisable into three segments (cranial, descending and ascending). A constriction was observed first time between pyloric part of stomach and duodenum at 51 days of gestation. A distinct ‘S’ shaped curve (ansa sigmoidea) was observed at 51 days of gestation. A fold of peritoneum between descending and ascending part of duodenum was discernible at 92 days of gestation and related with ventral surface of right kidney at 97 days of gestation. The luminal surface of duodenum showed presence of villi at 75 days of gestation and longitudinal folds at 150 days of gestation. The mean length and diameter of the different segments of duodenum were significantly correlated with age of foeti.