Neslihan Cankara

Anatomical development of urinary bladder during the fetal period

The aim of this study was to determine the development, location, and size of the urinary bladder during the fetal period. The study was performed on 149 human fetuses between 9 and 40 weeks of gestation. The location of the urinary bladder with respect to transverse plane between the highest point of pubic symphysis and the sacral promontory and median sagittal plane was first determined. The dimensions and the angle of the urinary bladder were measured, and bladder shapes were determined. In addition, the edges of the vesical trigone were measured. There was no significant difference between sexes for any of the parameters (P > 0.05). A significant correlation was observed between all parameters and gestational age (P < 0.001). The urinary bladder was located above the transverse plane in most of the cases (83%) and in the median sagittal plane in every case. It was determined that the angle of bladder did not change and the mean value of the angle was 151° during the fetal period. Bladder was categorized into four different shapes (ellipsoid, round, cuboid, and triangular), and the most common shape found during the fetal period was cuboid. The vesical trigone was an isosceles triangle during the fetal period. The new data provided by this study will enable evaluation of the development of the fetal urinary bladder, and should be useful in several fields such as anatomy, fetopathology, medical imaging, obstetrics, and pediatric urology. Clin. Anat. 21:683–690, 2008.

The morphometry of patella and patellar ligament during the fetal period.

This study aims to determine the development and morphology of the patella and patellar tendon and to obtain morphometric data about these structures during the fetal period. One hundred five human fetuses (55 males and 50 females) aged 9–40 weeks were used in this study. Fetuses were divided into four groups between gestational weeks; Group I (9–12 weeks), Group II (13–25 weeks), Group III (26–37 weeks), and Group IV (38–40 weeks). The patella and patellar ligament were exposed via anatomical dissection; the dimensions (length, width, thickness) and the width of the lateral and medial articular surfaces of the patella, and the length and width of the patellar ligament, were measured using a Verniers caliper. No significant differences were observed between genders or sides for any of the parameters (P > 0.05), and a significant correlation was found between gestational age and all parameters (P < 0.001). All parameters of the patella and patellar ligament were found to be different statistically between trimesters (P < 0.05). This study reveals the development, morphological changes, and the morphometric measurements of the patella and patellar ligament during the fetal period. We hope that the present results can be useful for future studies. Clin. Anat. 24:225–231, 2011.

The impact of prefertilization chronic mild stress on postnatal morphometric development

Objective. The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of chronic mild stress (CMS) induced before the fertilization on gestational maternal weight, length of gestation, and postnatal morphometric development. Material and method. Study is carried out on 18 Wistar albino rats; six females in the stress group, six females in the control group, and six males to be used for mating. CMS was induced in rats of the stress group for 4 weeks, followed by a post-CMS waiting period of 5-weeks. Rats were left for mating at the end of the post-CMS period. Weight gain in pregnant rats was monitored and length of gestation and litter size were recorded in the stress and control groups. Growth parameters of pups pertaining to the body, cranium, thorax, and limbs were measured until week 11. Findings. Weight gained by pregnant rats in the stress group was less than the control group. Increases in mean morphometric parameters from day 0 to week 11 in the stress group were less than the control group (p < 0.05). Furthermore, when developmental parameters at weeks 7, 9, and 11 were compared between genders, females in the stress group were found more affected than males (p < 0.05). Conclusion. CMS sustained before fertilization has a negative effect on gestational maternal weight and postnatal morphometric development of pups, more prominently in females.