Abdominal embryology

Introduction

This chapter provides an introduction to the embryology of the canine abdomen.

The primitive gut tube, consisting of foregut, midgut and hindgut, is suspended from the dorsal body wall by a dorsal mesentery. Part of the primitive gut tube also has a ventral mesentery attaching it to the ventral body wall.

Mesenteries allow blood vessels and nerves to reach the organs they suspend.

Mesothelium, a mesodermally-derived simple squamous epithelium, covers the mesenteries and the linings of the closed body cavities as serous membranes.