Journal article

Publication year: 1991

Pages: 225-244

Journal: Zeitschrift für Säugetierkunde = International journal of mammalian biology

Volume number: 56

Issue number: 4

ISSN: 0044-3468

Publisher: Urban & Fischer

Abstract: 

Investigated the morphometric parameters of the small and large intestines of 18 mammalian species. A new method is described for morphometric study of intestines by means of planimetry using the entire intestine to calculate basal surface areas. In addition a computer-aided programme is presented for assessing surface enlargement of the intestinal mucosa at the light-microscopical level. The latter gives a surface enlargement factor which can be multiplied by the values gained from planimetry to give a final total surface enlargement of the intestine. The data are presented in coordinate systems and are used for calculating linear regression. The results show clearly that basal areas of small intestine, colon and total intestine scale almost isometrically to metabolic body weight, whilst caecum scales slightly negative allometrically. Areas of all intestinal compartments scale negative allometrically to absolute body weight. Volume shows positive allometric scaling to metabolic body weight and approximately isometry to absolute body weight (except for caecum: negative allometry).

The relation of area to volume in the form of ratios (area/volume) gives an estimate of the area available per unit volume. In this case smaller animals appear to have a more advantageous relationship of area to volume than large animals. This fact is interpreted as a correlate to the higher metabolic needs of smaller animals.

Harvard Citation style: SNIPES, R. and KRIETE, A. (1991) QUANTITATIVE INVESTIGATION OF THE AREA AND VOLUME IN DIFFERENT COMPARTMENTS OF THE INTESTINE OF 18 MAMMALIAN-SPECIES, ZEITSCHRIFT FUR SAUGETIERKUNDE-INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MAMMALIAN BIOLOGY, 56(4), pp. 225-244

APA Citation style: SNIPES, R., & KRIETE, A. (1991). QUANTITATIVE INVESTIGATION OF THE AREA AND VOLUME IN DIFFERENT COMPARTMENTS OF THE INTESTINE OF 18 MAMMALIAN-SPECIES. ZEITSCHRIFT FUR SAUGETIERKUNDE-INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MAMMALIAN BIOLOGY. 56(4), 225-244.