Seminars in Pediatric Surgery
Volume 18, Issue 1 , Pages 2-11, February 2009

Embryology of oesophageal atresia

  • Adonis S. Ioannides

      Affiliations

    • Clinical Genetics Unit, Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, United Kingdom
    • Corresponding Author InformationAddress reprint requests and correspondence: Adonis S. Ioannides, Clinical Genetics Unit, Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital, London WC1N 3JH, UK
  • ,
  • Andrew J. Copp

      Affiliations

    • Neural Development Unit, Institute of Child Health, University College, London, United Kingdom

Esophageal atresia (OA) and tracheoesophageal fistula (TOF) are important human birth defects of unknown etiology. The embryogenesis of OA/TOF remains poorly understood, mirroring the lack of clarity of the mechanisms of normal tracheoesophageal development. The development of rat and mouse models of OA/TOF has allowed the parallel study of both normal and abnormal embryogenesis. Although controversies persist, the fundamental morphogenetic process appears to be a rearrangement of the proximal foregut into separate respiratory (ventral) and gastrointestinal (dorsal) tubes. This process depends on the precise temporal and spatial pattern of expression of a number of foregut patterning genes. Disturbance of this pattern disrupts foregut separation and underlies the development of tracheoesophageal malformations.

Keywords: Oesophagus, Atresia, Malformations, Embryology, Tracheooesophageal, Separation

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PII: S1055-8586(08)00078-4

doi:10.1053/j.sempedsurg.2008.10.002

Seminars in Pediatric Surgery
Volume 18, Issue 1 , Pages 2-11, February 2009