Anatomical and Histological Features of the Gastrointestinal Tract in the Nile Crocodile, (Crocodylus Niloticus) with Special reference to its Arterial Blood Supply

The present study was investigated the anatomical features of the gastrointestinal tract in the Nile crocodile with detailed information about its arterial blood supply. Four adult Nile crocodiles were used for studying the morphology, histology of digestive tract and its arterial supply. The crocodile was euthanized then fixed in situ with 10% formalin to be dissected. Other fresh specimen was sectioned into small pieces for histological investigation. Two specimens were injected by colored latex neoprene through the heart for arterial study. The gastrointestinal tract composed of long straight esophagus, two sacs stomach, and double looped duodenum occupying pancreas, coiled small intestine and colorectum. The arterial blood supply originated from the celiacomesentric artery which gave up three branches; right gastric, intestinal and gastro duodenal arteries. The mucosal lining of the all digestive tract was simple columnar epithelium varied from secretory to absorptive, lamina propria was mostly fibroelastic connective tissue contains either glands or lymphocytes. Tunica musculosa frequently formed of inner circular and outer longitudinal smooth muscles excluding the fundic part of stomach had middle layer.