Magdalena Grzonkowska

Quantitative anatomy of the growing clavicle in the human fetus: CT, digital image analysis, and statistical study

PurposesKnowledge of dimensions of fetal long bones is useful in both the assessment of fetal growth and early detection of inherited defects. Measurements of the fetal clavicle may facilitate detection of numerous defects, e.g., cleidocranial dysplasia, Holt–Oram syndrome, Goltz syndrome, and Melnick–Needles syndrome.MethodsUsing the methods of CT, digital image analysis, and statistics, the size of the growing clavicle in 42 spontaneously aborted human fetuses (21 males and 21 females) at ages of 18–30 weeks was studied.ResultsWithout any male–female and right–left significant differences, the best fit growth models for the growing clavicle with relation to age in weeks were as follows: y = −54.439 + 24.673 × ln(age) ± 0.237 (R2 = 0.86) for length, y = −12.042 + 4.906 × ln(age) ± 0.362 (R2 = 0.82) for width of acromial end, y = −4.210 + 2.028 × ln(age) ± 0.177 (R2 = 0.77) for width of central part, y = −4.687 + 2.364 × ln(age) ± 0.242 (R2 = 0.70) for width of sternal end, y = −51.078 + 4.174 × ln(age) ± 6.943 (R2 = 0.82) for cross-sectional area, and y = −766.948 + 281.774 × ln(age) ± 19.610 (R2 = 0.84) for volume.ConclusionsWith no sex and laterality differences, the clavicle grows logarithmically with respect to its length, width, and volume, and linearly with respect to its projection surface area. The obtained morphometric data of the growing clavicle are considered normative for their respective weeks of gestation and may be of relevance in the diagnosis of congenital defects.

Ossification center of the humeral shaft in the human fetus: a CT, digital, and statistical study

PurposeThe knowledge of the development of the humeral shaft ossification center may be useful both in determining the fetal stage and maturity and for detecting congenital disorders, as well. This study was performed to quantitatively examine the humeral shaft ossification center with respect to its linear, planar, and volumetric parameters.Materials and methodUsing methods of CT, digital image analysis, and statistics, the size of the humeral shaft ossification center in 48 spontaneously aborted human fetuses aged 17–30 weeks was studied.ResultsWith no sex differences, the best-fit growth dynamics for the humeral shaft ossification center was modeled by the following functions: y = −78.568 + 34.114 × ln (age) ± 2.160 for its length, y = −12.733 + 5.654 × ln(age) ± 0.515 for its proximal transverse diameter, y = −4.750 + 2.609 × ln (age) ± 0.294 for its middle transverse diameter, y = −10.037 + 4.648 × ln (age) ± 0.560 for its distal transverse diameter, y = −146.601 + 11.237 × age ± 19.907 for its projection surface area, and y = 121.159 + 0.001 × (age)4 ± 102.944 for its volume.ConclusionsWith no sex differences, the ossification center of the humeral shaft grows logarithmically with respect to its length and transverse diameters, linearly with respect to its projection surface area, and fourth-degree polynomially with respect to its volume. The obtained morphometric data of the humeral shaft ossification center are considered normative for respective prenatal weeks and may be of relevance in both the estimation of fetal ages and the ultrasonic diagnostics of congenital defects.

Morphometric study of the triangle of Petit in human fetuses

BACKGROUND The inferior lumbar triangle of Petit is bounded by the iliac crest, lateral border of the latissimus dorsi and the medial border of the external oblique. OBJECTIVES In the present study, we aimed to quantitatively examine the base, sides, area, and interior angles of the inferior lumbar triangle in the human fetus so as to provide their growth dynamics. MATERIAL AND METHODS Using anatomical dissection, digital image analysis (NIS-Elements AR 3.0), and statistics (Students t-test, regression analysis), we measured the base, 2 sides, area and interior angles of Petits triangle in 35 fetuses of both sexes (16 male, 19 female) aged 14-24 weeks. RESULTS Neither sex nor laterality differences were found. All the parameters studied increased commensurately with age. The linear functions were computed as follows: y = -0.427 + 0.302 × age for base, y = 1.386 + 0.278 × age for medial side, y = 0.871 + 0.323 × age for lateral side, and y = -13.230 + 1.590 × age for area of the Petit triangle. CONCLUSIONS In terms of geometry, Petit triangle reveals neither male-female nor right-left differences. An increase in both lengths and area of the inferior lumbar triangle follows proportionately. The Petit triangle is an acute one in the human fetus.