Cloaca

Cloaca •The dilated sac-like structure in the center of the photograph is a persistent cloaca. There has been failure in early fetal life of the urorectal septum to divide the rectum from the urogenital sinus. •The photograph is a posterior view. Entering the cloaca are the colon, the right ureter and the left ureter (not shown). The cloaca served as rectum and bladder. There was no left kidney (renal agenesis). The infant had no anus. •The only outlet was a thin narrow urethra. (Description By:H. Yamase, M.D. ) (Image Contrib. by: UCHC )