Category:Peritoneal Cavity - Developmental Pathology

• Congenital anomalies are rare

Persistent vitelline or omphalomesenteric duct

• Fibrous ligament may be formed betwen the intestine and the umbilicus
• Partial or full
• May become involved in herniation

Persistent vitelline artery

Image of mesentery trapping intestine from Cornell Veterinary Medicine

• Fold of mesentery
• May trap intestine causing strangulation

External hernias

Image of congenital umbilical hernia in a pig from Cornell Veterinary Medicine

• Abnormally large openings e.g. inguinal canal
• Persistent fetal openings e.g. umbilical hernia
• Defects of closure of abdominal cavity e.g. congenital diaphragmatic hernia

Pleuroperitoneal diaphragmatic hernia

• Very rare
• In dogs may have autosomal recessive inheritance
• Defect of skeletal muscle of diaphragm
• Margins of the diaphragmatic defect are smooth
• Small animals usually die at or soon after birth
• Large animals may survive for considerable period or show signs of respiratory difficulty or abdominal pain (if entrapment of abdominal viscera occurs)

Peritoneopericardial diaphragmatic hernia

• More commonly seen possibly due to longer survival
• Sometimes associated with cardiac abnormalities, malformations of sternum, costochondral junctions or umbilical hernia
• Sometimes present with respiratory difficulty, failure to thrive, vomiting