A Human Cadaveric study on length of small intestine and estimated the surface area of mucosal for absorption

Abstract

Background: Small intestine is the part of gastrointestinal tract. There is no study regarding the measurement of the small intestine length in Thais as well as the estimation of the surface area of small intestine mucosa, or absorption area

Objective: to measure the length of small intestine and estimated the surface area of small intestine mucosa.

Material and Methods:  The small intestine length was measured in 30 cadavers from pyloric vein of Mayo until the junction of terminal ileum to cecum on the anti-mesenteric portion. The diameter of small intestine was recorded at 100, 150, 200 centimetres from the ligament of Trietz.

Results: The mean length of small intestine is found to be 483.31 + 116.01 cm and the average diameter of small intestine being 2.75 + 0.34 cm. Accounting the presence of microvilli, estimation from microscopic study of duodenum, jejunum and ileum found the mean height to be 433.93 + 18.51 mm and mean diameter of 49.66 + 13.95 mm. Consequently, additional surface area added by the one villus was 83226.61 mm² or 8.32 cm². The mean number of villi in a cm² was 6.8 + 5.6 villi, making the area surface of all villi in one cm² to be 388.44 cm². With regards to the villi, adjusted total surface area of small intestine became 2,367,949 cm².

Conclusions: Thais small intestine length in Thais cadavers appeared to be the same as the general aspect. Regardless of the estimation of surface area shown in this study, prediction of the outcome following small bowel resection should be considered with other factors in mind, owning to the fact that pathogenesis of short bowel syndrome is multifactorialใ