Examination of abdominal organs

EXAMINATION OF THE ABDOMINAL ORGANS

  • The abdominal organs, particularly the gastrointestinal tract takes priority in the examination of organs
  • Their content of enzymes and bacterial flora render these organs to undergo rapid post mortem autolysis
  • It is desirable to remove the entire alimentary tract from the rest of the carcass
  • This will minimise soiling of the carcass with spilling digesta from the opened alimentary tract segment
  • Remove the whole segment of the gastrointestinal tract
  • To do this, grasp the large intestine and cut its mesenteric attachment
  • Cut the portion of the large intestine as it enters the pelvic cavity
  • While holding the cut segment of the large intestine, severe the mesenteric attachment of the large and small intestine
  • This will free the whole segment of the gastrointestinal tract
  • Grasp the whole structure, including the stomach and spleen and expose the duodenal loop where the bile duct opens
  • Gently press the gall bladder and note if the bile would flow freely from the bile duct towards the duodenal loop
  • A small cut at the segment of the duodenum where the bile duct opens may be required to determine this condition
  • Then, grasp the body of the stomach and gently press the cardia and the oesophagus close to the oesophageal hiatus of the diaphragm
  • Free the stomach the segments of the intestines by cutting the oesophagus
  • Remove the spleen by cutting the omental attachment from the body of the stomach
  • Place the whole gastrointestinal segments on one side of the table. With the aid of a pair of scissors, the stomach is first opened by cutting from the cardia and down at the greater curvature towards the pylorus. Spread open the stomach and gently remove its contents
  • Examine the contents and qualify and the thickness of the walls
  • Note for the presence of ulcers, evidence of calcification, strictures, perforations, foreign bodies, and exudates
  • Free the entire length of the intestine by cutting close to the mesenteric attachment segment by segment
  • While freeing the duodenum, exercise care not to damage the pancreas which should be examined at this stage
  • Note for nodule formations, colour, and texture of the organ
  • Examine also the adjacent adipose tissues and look for evidence of necrosis of fat
  • Cut open the intestine as the segment is freed from its attachment
  • Locate and open a representative segment of the duodenum, jejumum, ileum, caecum and colon
  • Examine the contents, the appearance of the mucosal surfaces, thickness of the walls, presence of ulcers and strictures, foreign bodies, and exudates
  • Qualify the color, odour, and consistency of the contents
Last modified: Friday, 23 March 2012, 10:06 AM