Human foetal stomach : a morphological study

Abstract Background and aims : The morphology of human stomach is subjected to wide variations and changes during developmental stage. Congenital anomalies of stomach like hypertrophic pyloric stenosis and thoracic stomach are common in new barns. Some rare anomalies like duplication, diverticula and hypoplasia of stomach also may occur. The present study attempts to analyze the morphological changes like change in shape, height, width, length of greater and lesser curvatures, capacity and localization of stomach in the quadrants of abdomen in different age groups of human foetuses and also to look for congenital anomalies. Materials and methods: Fifty normal fresh still born foetuses of age varying from 15 to 40 weeks were dissected and morphological study was carried out. Parameters like height, width, length of greater and lesser curvature,capacity of stomach were measured and location, shape, internal appearance of stomach were noted. Results: Significant changes in shape and in location of stomach in different quadrants of the abdomen were found in different foetal age groups. Localization of stomach is seen as that in adults by 25th week of foetal age. Typical 'J' shaped stomach is seen by 28th week of foetal age. Height, width, length of greater and lesser curvatures and capacity of stomach increased with increasing foetal age. A sudden increase in width was seen at 17th week and a sudden increase in height was noted at 25th week. Well developed rugae and gastric canal were seen in inner surface of stomach by 28th week. Capacity of stomach increased from 1 ml at 15th week tom 32 ml at 40th week. Conclusion: The obsevations of the present study show that morphology and location of the stomach in different age groups show great variations. This study may help in study of development of stomach and in diagnosis of different developmental anomalies, ailments and pathology of stomach.