Anatomy (Digestive System)

is a group of organs working together to convert food

into energy and basic nutrients to feed the entire body.
Food passes through a long tube inside the body known
as the alimentary canal or the gastrointestinal tract (GI
tract).
Intestinal Malrotation
An intestinal obstruction is a blockage of the digestive
tract that prevents the proper passage of food. Some
intestinal obstructions are present at birth, while others
are caused by such problems as hernias, abnormal scar
tissue growth after an abdominal operation, and
inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Malrotation is twisting of the intestines (or bowel) caused by abnormal development
while a fetus is in utero, and can cause obstruction. Malrotation occurs in 1 out of every
500 births in the United States.

The small and large intestines are the longest part of the digestive system. If stretched
out to their full length, they would measure more than 20 feet long by adulthood, but
because they're folded up, they fit into the relatively small space inside the abdomen.

Malrotation occurs when the intestines don't position themselves normally during fetal
development and aren't attached inside properly as a result. The exact reason this
occurs is unknown.

When a fetus develops in the womb, the intestines start out as a small, straight tube
between the stomach and the rectum. As this tube develops into separate organs, the
intestines move into the umbilical cord, which supplies nutrients to the developing
embryo.

Near the end of the first trimester of

pregnancy, the intestines move from the
umbilical cord into the abdomen. When
they don't properly turn after moving into
the abdomen, malrotation occurs.