ABDOMINAL WALL EXSTROPHIES 

Gastroschisis and omphaloceles are two main types of congenital abdominal exstrophies. (start with/see omphalocele)

GASTROSCHISIS

A "schisis" refers to a gap or cleft in the abdominal wall or the "stomach" (in the sense of the ventrum or abdominal cavity) and not the "organ" stomach. The schisis occurs near the navel, mostly to the right of the umbilicus (wrongfully called by some para-omphalocele - there is no "cele" or sac). The defect results in  the protrusion of bowel loops (exstrophy).

In contrast to omphalo"celes", in gastro"schisis" the exstrophied gut is not contained in a membranous cavity or "cele". The umbilical cord inserts in the usual midline site in contrast to omphaloceles where the cord inserts on the apex of the "cele". Furthermore, gastroschisis is mostly an isolated anomaly and rarely is due to chromosomal defects while omphaloceles often are one of many "birth defects". The Beckwith Wiedemann Syndrome is a high cancer risk syndrome and refers to the combination of an omphalocele or milder umbilical defects with macroglossia and other dysmorphic signs.

Menigo"cele" is another type of "cele" malformation of the spine that can be prevented by dietary supplements of folic acid. (Humanities and Fine Arts continued ...)

GASTRIC, GASTRULA, GUSTO, STOMACH, HUMOR ...

Human festivities are mostly gastronomic as is Thanksgiving.

"Gastric" has to do with tasting, consuming and incorporating food. "Stoma" "Stomach", "Stomatology" as well as "Gastric" convey ideas of mouth, opening, cavity, pouch, bag, belly and barrel.

Gastrula also points to cavity and refers to the early embryonal cavitation which will evolve into a "cele" or coelom, the early embryonal cavity of mammalians.

"Gastronomy", "gusto", "gustatory" underscore the art and science of tasteful cooking. In fact, good taste and good humor stimulate digestive humors. On the other hand, negative emotions can spoil digestion.

"Civilized man does not live without cooks"

To sip soup with gusto requires a cook versatile in gastronomy.

Gusto has roots in Latin "vastare" from which we get "devastating" and "waste". Perhaps Latin poets meant  to stress that excessive gusto for gastronomy not only can be dis"gust"ing but can also de"vastate" or waste good health.

"He who has no stomach to this fight let him depart ..."
said Henry V according to Shakespeare.

Scissors, sheers, schisis and gastroschisis point to cleft, split, or separation.

Schisis as in Gastro-schisis suggests it may be time to "split" or "cut-off" this overview. To avoid a schizophrenic departure (lacking integration), perhaps it should be noted that "schizo - schisis" provide the meaning in scissor, shears, schedule, incidence, decide, deceit and, more remotely, eschucheon. The term eschucheon used in medical parlance refers to the shape of the chest and is derived from the word scutum or shield.

Gastroschisis. (No Membranous Sac)