Topogenesis of the anterior intestinal port. Microkinematographic investigations on chick embryos.

Morphogenetic movements of the anterior intestinal port of in vitro growing chick embryos were recorded in stages 5--12 by means of microkinematography. Anterior intestinal port moves between stages 7 and 12 by 1.02 mm caudally, while the cranial end of the head migrates by 0.45 mm cranially. Rate of descensus, which is high during stages 7--9, decreases continually, approaching 0 in stage 12. The results are discussed in connection with the formation of intestinal port and of foregut.