The embryology of foregut malformations*

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-3468(87)80254-3Get rights and content

Developmental disorders in the period of the differentiation of the primitive foregut leads to atresia of the esophagus with tracheoesophageal fistula. Most authors think that this differentiation is caused by lateral foregut folds, which fuse in midline, thus forming the tracheoesophageal septum. In order to gain information about this period of development, we studied the foregut region of chick embroys by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and light microscopy. In our study no signs of lateral folds or fusing foregut wall components, which were forming a tracheoesophageal septum, were found. Our study suggests that the development of the esophagus and trachea is the result of a simple reduction of the size of the primitive foregut. The consequence for the understanding of the embryology of the foregut malformations is discussed.

References (18)

  • KluthD

    Atlas of esophageal atresia

    J Pediatr Surg

    (1976)
  • BuchinoJJ et al.

    Tracheal agenesis: A clinical approach

    J Pediatr Surg

    (1982)
  • KlecknerSC et al.

    The effect of chick embryo hyperflektion on tracheoesophageal development

    J Pediatr Surg

    (1984)
  • LouwJH

    Jejunoileal atresias and stenosis

    J Pediatr Surg

    (1966)
  • RosenthalAH

    Congenital atresia of the esophagus with tracheoesophageal fistula: Report of eight cases

    Arch Pathol

    (1931)
  • StreeterGL

    Development horizons in human embryos; descriptions of age group XIII, embryos 4 or 5 mm long, and age group XIV, period of indentation of the lens vesicle

    Contr Embryol Carneg Inst

    (1945)
  • StreeterGL

    Development horizons in human embryos; description of age groups XV, XVI, XVII and XVIII

    Contr Embryol Carneg Inst

    (1945)
  • PolitzerG et al.

    Die formale Genese der kongenitalen Oesophagusatresie und Oesophago-Tracheal-fistel

    Beitr Pathol Anal

    (1954)
  • GraySW et al.
There are more references available in the full text version of this article.

Cited by (108)

  • Congenital airway anomalies

    2021, Seminars in Pediatric Surgery
  • Developmental Anatomy and Physiology of the Esophagus

    2020, Pediatric Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease, Sixth Edition
  • Low inter-arytenoid height: A subclassification of type 1 laryngeal cleft diagnosis and management

    2015, International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology
    Citation Excerpt :

    Classically, posterior laryngeal clefts, or laryngotracheoesophageal clefts, (LTOC) represent a failure or arrest of fusion of the tracheoesophageal septum which first begins to appear at Carnegie stages 12 and 13, (25–28 days) [14]. Ongoing scepticism exists and numerous theories as to the genesis of LTOC have been proposed [15,16]. An inter-arytenoid (type I) cleft however likely develops from failure of dorsal fusion of the inter-arytenoid musculature with an intact cricoid [17].

  • Genetics of gastrointestinal atresias

    2014, European Journal of Medical Genetics
View all citing articles on Scopus
*

Presented in part at the 29th Annual Meeting of the British Association of Pediatric Surgeons, Madrid, 1982.

1

From the Kinderchir Klinik der Med Hochschule Hannover, and the Department of Embryology, Centre of Anatomy, University Göttingen.

View full text