Organ dissection — gastrointestinal system

Abstract

The gastrointestinal system extends from the mouth to the anus and for the purposes of the post mortem examination includes local integrated structures such as the salivary glands, liver, gall bladder and pancreas. The en masse technique of dissection will obviously include all of these organs and their separation should follow the method described in the general chapter. Following the block removal method of evisceration, these structures will be present in all of the four main organ blocks with the tongue, part of the pharynx and oesophagus in the thoracic block, the stomach, proximal small bowel, liver, gall bladder and pancreas in the coeliac block and the lower rectum with the pelvic organs. Of course the majority of the intestines will have been removed as a separate block. Once isolated from each other, as described in the block dissection section of the general chapter, the individual organs can be dissected in the following manner. Special techniques pertaining to the gastrointestinal tract will also be described in the relevant areas.