RESUMO
The anatomical features of the digestive system in 126 new-born cadavers were examined. In the oral cavity, the palatal ridges on the anterior part of the hard palate were very conspicous. The tongue, in most of the cases, was found to protrude out into the vestibule. This condition was contradictory to most of the textbooks, which state the tongue of the new born infant is short. The pharynx showed usual appearance as in the adult. Its lower end, taking the level of the lower border of the larynx as a land-mark, was at the level of the 4th or 5th cervical vertebra. The distance between the lower margin of the soft palate to the above mentioned level was 3—4 cm. The oesophagus showed no distinct constriction throughout its length. The distance between the upper alveolar process to the cardiac orifice of the stomach was 13—16 cm., being 15 cm. in average. In the majority of cases, the stomach assumed a "J" shape, and its general outline was very much like that of the adult. The liver was relatively large, its weight being 3—4% of that of the body. The umbilical vein when coursing in the left longitudinal fissure of the liver showed a dilation, from which 2—3 branches were given out to the left lobe; 1 or 2 branches to the caudate lobe; 1 to the right lobe after anastomosing with the portal vein. From this anastomotic branch, 1 twig was given to the quadrate lobe. The termination of this vein then became the ductus venosus, much diminished in size, before joining the inferior vena cava. The pancreas was 3—5 gms. in weight. Its course was in front of the left suprarenal gland instead of the left kidney. The small intestine appeared lengthy. No measurement was made on account of the embalmed bodies. A second duodenal papilla was found in 86% of the total cases. The caecum assumed a funnel-shape, lying above the iliac crest in most of the cases. In 3 cases the caecum was observed to be high up under the liver. The vermiform appendix was 3—5 cm. in length, and no valve was found at its orifice. A certain quantity of meconium was found in the lumen of the appendix. The position of the appendix was found to be variable. The taeniae coli were visible. In the majority of cases, neither sacculations nor ap- pendices epiploicae were present. The descending and sigmoid colon were largely distended by the meconium. No visible fat deposition was found in the omentum and mesentery in which the blood vessels and lymph nodes were clearly visible. The great omentum was rather short and extended only 2—3 cm. downwards from the great curvature of the stomach.