Key Points Development of the lung as a derivative of the upper gastrointestinal tract. Predisposition of anatomy of the lungs to aspiration of food, saliva, and vomitus. Development of four-chambered ...

This article – the fifth in a six-part series describes the physiology and functions of the large intestine, the last portion of the gastrointestinal tract, as well as common conditions of both the ...

The proximity of respiratory and GI tract has resulted in a complex set of morphologic and reflex adaptations that permit separation of respiratory and GI functions in the aerodigestive tract. For ...

The precise pathogenesis of NEC is elusive. For a brief review of GI anatomy and physiology, see Sidebar 2. As early as 1975, the triad of GI mucosal injury, presence of bacteria in the gut, and ...