On the Meckel's Divertikel of avian intestine

Abstract

The author took note on this intestinal lymphatic divertikel of birds, which is known as the remain of the duct of yolk sac of chick stage. The presence or absence of the divertikel in adults, the length, distance from gizzard and the position (ratio of this distance for total length of intestine) are given, and the histological observation on two samples, which shows the lymphatic nodules, is reported. As has been discussed by other authors, it remains as a general rule in the nidifugous and water or terrestrial birds and in those which has developed caeca, but with exceptions in each case. These rather many exceptions indicate that this divertikel, though in some cases it shows secondary development, is not considered very significant functionally and adaptively.