A light microscopical study of the intestinal tract of the Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus, Laurenti 1768). 1992

S H Kotzé, and N J Van der Merwe, and G Van Aswegen, and G A Smith
Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, South Africa.

Although the histology of the intestinal tract of Crocodylus niloticus is touched on in overall studies on reptilian intestinal tract, a more comprehensive light microscopical study on this area is lacking. Specimens for histological examination were taken from the duodenum, the jejunum, the ileum and the rectum. The data obtained revealed that the mucosa is thrown into folds and simple, slightly branched tubular intestinal glands. The mucosal folds diminished in height and eventually disappeared upon reaching the ileorectal junction. The epithelium covering the folds and crypts was of the simple columnar type. Clear marginal cells, goblet cells and argentaffin cells were observed throughout the intestinal tract. No Paneth cells were seen in this study. The lamina propria was rich in lymphocytic infiltrations while the muscularis mucosa consisted mainly of an outer longitudinal layer, the inner circular layer being rudimentary or absent. The submucosa was extremely narrow, and the circular and longitudinal layers of the tunica muscularis contained distinct layers of dense fibrous connective tissue. The histology of the intestinal tract of C. niloticus is shown to be in line with the situation in crocodilians and also exhibits a resemblance to that of carnivorous mammals.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007082 Ileum The distal and narrowest portion of the SMALL INTESTINE, between the JEJUNUM and the ILEOCECAL VALVE of the LARGE INTESTINE.
D007413 Intestinal Mucosa Lining of the INTESTINES, consisting of an inner EPITHELIUM, a middle LAMINA PROPRIA, and an outer MUSCULARIS MUCOSAE. In the SMALL INTESTINE, the mucosa is characterized by a series of folds and abundance of absorptive cells (ENTEROCYTES) with MICROVILLI. Intestinal Epithelium,Intestinal Glands,Epithelium, Intestinal,Gland, Intestinal,Glands, Intestinal,Intestinal Gland,Mucosa, Intestinal
D007422 Intestines The section of the alimentary canal from the STOMACH to the ANAL CANAL. It includes the LARGE INTESTINE and SMALL INTESTINE. Intestine
D007583 Jejunum The middle portion of the SMALL INTESTINE, between DUODENUM and ILEUM. It represents about 2/5 of the remaining portion of the small intestine below duodenum. Jejunums
D008297 Male Males
D012007 Rectum The distal segment of the LARGE INTESTINE, between the SIGMOID COLON and the ANAL CANAL. Rectums
D004386 Duodenum The shortest and widest portion of the SMALL INTESTINE adjacent to the PYLORUS of the STOMACH. It is named for having the length equal to about the width of 12 fingers. Duodenums
D005260 Female Females
D000489 Alligators and Crocodiles Large, long-tailed reptiles, including caimans, of the order Loricata. Caimans,Crocodiles,Alligators,Caymans,Alligator,Caiman,Cayman,Crocodile,Crocodiles and Alligators
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia

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