Useable duodenum...

[Guest guest]

we were talking about the duodenum in the last few weeks....I saw on the

newsletter where Dr. K ,the man himself, wrote that we have about 5cm of

useable duodenum.....Now how long is the average duodenum?? The article below

has

some interesting info:

1.1 Duodenum

The term duodenum (a Latin derivation from the Greek dodekadaktulon, " 12

fingers " ) is applied to the most proximal segment of the small intestine because

of its length - 12 fingers' breadth. The duodenum is subdivided into four

portions: the first portion, which corresponds to the radiologic designation of

duodenal bulb or cap; the second (descending) portion; the third (transverse)

portion; and the fourth (ascending) portion.

Situated immediately above the first portion of the duodenum are the quadrate

lobe of the liver and the gallbladder. The gallbladder normally can impinge

on the lesser curve of the duodenal cap to produce the smooth concavity seen in

radiographs. Behind the first portion of the duodenum is the head of the

pancreas. Because of this relationship, the pancreas is the commonest site of

penetration by a duodenal ulcer.

The second portion of the duodenum is concave; it hugs the head of the

pancreas. A carcinoma or inflammatory mass in the head of the pancreas can

occasionally affect the mucosal pattern along the medial aspect of the second

portion

of the duodenum. Congenital duodenal diverticula are commonly seen extending

from the medial aspect of the second portion.

The third portion of the duodenum lies horizontally at the level of the third

lumbar vertebra. The superior mesenteric artery, vein and nerve run anterior

to its middle segment. In a thin individual or a person with recent massive

weight loss, the superior mesenteric vessel sheath may impinge on the third

portion of the duodenum, which is associated with chronic, intermittent

obstruction of the duodenum.

The fourth portion of the duodenum as it ascends to the level of the second

lumbar vertebra is in intimate contact with the aorta. This intimacy of

duodenum and aorta can lead to fatal complications of aortic grafting when the

graft

erodes the duodenal wall, resulting in hemorrhage. Bleeding may be either

catastrophic (due to a tiny connection between the aortic lumen and the duodenal

lumen) or chronic with iron deficiency and fever (due to erosion of the

duodenal mucosa by the exterior of the graft).

The mucosal pattern of the first portion (the duodenal cap or bulb) can be

distinguished radiologically and endoscopically from the remaining duodenum. In

the cap, shallow folds run longitudinally and are obliterated as the cap is

distended. Beginning at the junction between the first and second portions of

the duodenum, permanent transverse conniventes, characteristic of the small

intestine, begin.

in Bama

VBG 1982 (lost from 433lbs to 270's)

VBG -RNY1996 revision(Lost from 343 to 299)

RNY-DS revision Dec 2002 -down 122 lbs (377.7 to 255.6 and still going)

Homepage address- http://hometown.aol.com/mdl1031/myhomepage/profile.html

Many thanks to Dr. K willing to take on a 3rd timer....LOL