Vol 67, No 4 (2008)
Original article
Submitted: 2012-02-06
Published online: 2008-09-30
External diameters of the pulmonary arteries in human foetuses: an anatomical, digital and statistical study
M. Szpinda
Folia Morphol 2008;67(4):240-244.
Vol 67, No 4 (2008)
ORIGINAL ARTICLES
Submitted: 2012-02-06
Published online: 2008-09-30
Abstract
This study defines the growth patterns for the external diameters of the pulmonary
arteries in human foetuses, including relationships with sex, side of body
(right-left) and foetal age. Using anatomical dissection, digital-image analysis
(system of Leica Q Win Pro 16) and statistical analysis (ANOVA, regression analysis),
a range of external diameters for the right and left pulmonary arteries in
128 spontaneously aborted human foetuses aged 15-34 weeks was examined.
No significant gender differences were found (p > 0.05). In the examined age range
the values of the external diameter of the right pulmonary artery ranged from
0.97 ± 0.24 to 2.95 ± 0.89 mm, according to the linear function y = -0.7753 + 0.1148 x ± 0.4580 (r = 0.83; p < 0.001). The values of the external diameter
of the left pulmonary artery ranged from 0.88 ± 0.25 to 2.63 ± 0.80 mm, in
accordance with the linear relationship y = -0.6228 + 0.1007 x ± 0.4280
(r = 0.81; p < 0.001). The external diameters of the right pulmonary artery were
greater than those of the left pulmonary artery (p < 0.001). Parallel to the increase
in the values of the external diameters of both the pulmonary arteries, the
pulmonary artery-to-ascending aorta diameter ratio (the relative diameter of the
pulmonary artery) decreased with advanced foetal age from 0.46 ± 0.10 to
0.43 ± 0.13 for the right pulmonary artery, and from 0.43 ± 0.10 to 0.39 ± 0.12 for the left one. The growth curves generated may be useful as reference
data for foetal diagnosis.
Abstract
This study defines the growth patterns for the external diameters of the pulmonary
arteries in human foetuses, including relationships with sex, side of body
(right-left) and foetal age. Using anatomical dissection, digital-image analysis
(system of Leica Q Win Pro 16) and statistical analysis (ANOVA, regression analysis),
a range of external diameters for the right and left pulmonary arteries in
128 spontaneously aborted human foetuses aged 15-34 weeks was examined.
No significant gender differences were found (p > 0.05). In the examined age range
the values of the external diameter of the right pulmonary artery ranged from
0.97 ± 0.24 to 2.95 ± 0.89 mm, according to the linear function y = -0.7753 + 0.1148 x ± 0.4580 (r = 0.83; p < 0.001). The values of the external diameter
of the left pulmonary artery ranged from 0.88 ± 0.25 to 2.63 ± 0.80 mm, in
accordance with the linear relationship y = -0.6228 + 0.1007 x ± 0.4280
(r = 0.81; p < 0.001). The external diameters of the right pulmonary artery were
greater than those of the left pulmonary artery (p < 0.001). Parallel to the increase
in the values of the external diameters of both the pulmonary arteries, the
pulmonary artery-to-ascending aorta diameter ratio (the relative diameter of the
pulmonary artery) decreased with advanced foetal age from 0.46 ± 0.10 to
0.43 ± 0.13 for the right pulmonary artery, and from 0.43 ± 0.10 to 0.39 ± 0.12 for the left one. The growth curves generated may be useful as reference
data for foetal diagnosis.
Keywords
external diameter; pulmonary artery; digital image-analysis
Title
External diameters of the pulmonary arteries in human foetuses: an anatomical, digital and statistical study
Journal
Folia Morphologica
Issue
Vol 67, No 4 (2008)
Article type
Original article
Pages
240-244
Published online
2008-09-30
Page views
461
Article views/downloads
1167
Bibliographic record
Folia Morphol 2008;67(4):240-244.
Keywords
external diameter
pulmonary artery
digital image-analysis
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