Gross Anatomical Observations on the Jejunum in Prenatal Goat (Capra hircus)

Abstract

The study was realised on the jejunum of formalin fixed 36 non-descript goat embryos/foeti (irrespective of sex). Embryos/foeti were equally divided into 3 groups having 12 foeti in each group. The jejunum was first time identified as jejuno-ileum in group-I at 43 days of gestation in goat foeti. It began to develop in the form of slight convulsions in the descending limb of intestinal loop. In group-II from 70 days of gestation onwards most jejunal coils were arranged as ‘U’ shaped tubular loops along the border of mesenteries. The luminal surface of jejunum showed mucosal projections indicating the presence of villi at this stage. In group-III, at 116 days of gestation the jejunum was positioned between both kidneys, ventral to the caudal blind sac of the rumen. The coils of jejunum covered whole left side of abdomen above the liver at 124 days of gestation onwards and caudal transverse groove of rumen was in close contact with the organ up to the full term goat foeti. Statistical analysis revealed that there was significant increase in all measured biometrical parameters of jejunum from group I to II and from group II to group III.