Cloaca

The cloaca (from Latin cloaca - sewer) is the most posterior part of the hindgut of the embryo of vertebrate animals.

In vertebrate embryos, the cloaca is a common opening into which the intestines, ureters and genital ducts open. During the development of the embryo, the cloaca is divided into separate openings - anal and urogenital.

In birds and reptiles, the cloaca persists even after birth. It serves to excrete both feces and liquid metabolic products - urine and reproductive products.

In mammals and humans, the cloaca is divided into two sections by a horizontal septum during embryonic development:

  1. the posterior section forms the rectum and anus;

  2. the anterior section gives rise to the urogenital sinus, from which the bladder, urethra and genital tract subsequently develop.

Thus, in mature mammals and humans, the cloaca is transformed into separate openings for the excretion of feces, urine and reproductive products. However, in the embryonic period, the cloaca performs the important function of collecting and removing all excrement.



The cloaca (lat. Cloaca) is the most posterior part of the hindgut of the embryo, which is further divided into the rectum and the genitourinary system. The genitourinary system includes the urinary and genital canals, which connect at the urogenital sinus.

The cloaca is part of the digestive system and is important for the development of the body. It ensures the absorption of nutrients from the intestines and the removal of waste products. In addition, the cloaca is also the site of the formation of germ cells and the development of reproductive organs.

As the fetus develops, the cloaca gradually splits into two separate systems: the rectum and the urinary tract. This process begins before birth and continues after birth.

The final formation and development of the intestine occurs in the rectum. The urinary tract includes the bladder, ureters, and urinary canal, which store and remove urine from the body.

The genitourinary sinus is an important organ of the reproductive system, which ensures the formation of germ cells, the development of the genital organs and the excretory function. The urinary tract is also involved in maintaining fluid balance in the body and regulating acid-base balance.

Thus, the cloaca is not only part of the digestive and excretory systems, but also plays an important role in the development of the reproductive system. Its correct formation and division into separate systems is necessary for the normal functioning of the body and health in general.



The cloaca, or Cloaca, is the place that seems most unusual for human embryos. It represents the posterior part of the hindgut, which was united during several weeks of embryonic development.

How does the fetus develop? Starting from a few weeks of intrauterine life, most of the human body begins to develop into one common organ. This means that various organs, including the rectum, scrotum, ovaries and bladder, begin to combine into one huge lump of connective tissue. The merger process is divided into several stages and usually takes about nine months. However, in some people these organs may not form correctly, leading to various abnormalities in the fetus and newborn baby. Unfortunately, some abnormalities, including the presence of cloaca, can cause serious problems such as intestinal obstruction, urinary tract infection, and others.

Under normal conditions, the cloaca develops in the rectum and urogenital sinus with the urethra and diuretic duct connected together. These channels exit the body through the urethra and rectum. However, in people with cloacal anomaly, this separation does not occur properly, and the ducts are joined together even in adults. Sometimes the cloaca may consist only of the rectum, that is, without the bladder (open urinary tract).

Treatment for cloacal anomaly depends on the severity of each case. Surgery, such as removing part of the bladder and rectum, is usually used to relieve symptoms. There are also various support measures that can help reduce symptoms. In many cases, the operation is performed after the birth of the child, since it is impossible to determine the severity of the anomaly and its symptoms before birth.



The cloaca is a part of the embryonic intestine, formed from the primary intestine and divided into two anatomical regions: the rectum (hereinafter) and the urethra. It is divided into four parts according to the genital tract: anterior - rectovaginal, contains the urethra, posterior - perineal, has an outlet that passes into the periurethral cavity and opens at the level of the perineum, lateral - vulvovaginal, contains the vagina and urethra. The posterior walls of the lateral cloacal ducts form the ureters, through which urine enters the bladder.

The cloaca contains blood and lymphatic vessels of the bladder and the outlet of the ureter. Inflammation may form on the anterior wall of the cloaca in the medial plane during primary kidney infection or atrophy of the urinary tract epithelium.