Vol 62, No 1 (2003)
Original article
Submitted: 2012-02-06
Published online: 2002-12-04
Sex dimorphism in development dynamics and in development progression of morphological features in human foetuses
Małgorzata Waszak, Krystyna Cieślik
Folia Morphol 2003;62(1):33-39.
Vol 62, No 1 (2003)
ORIGINAL ARTICLES
Submitted: 2012-02-06
Published online: 2002-12-04
Abstract
The study material comprised 3889 foetuses of both sexes, aged 20–42 weeks. t-Student test has been applied to evaluate the existence of potential sex-dependent differentiation of developmental trends as assessed by weekly measurements of selected somatic features and by the weight of internal organs. The regression coefficients of the analysed variables have been compared against the opposite sex. The rate of development of the analysed features in consecutive
weeks has been found to be sex-related. Highest sex-related differences have been observed for the total body weight and for the weight of internal organs, with the exception of the adrenals, and the differences have been significant enough to justify the existence of contrasting, sex-dependent patterns of development of the analysed variables. The development of the analysed
morphological features has been depicted by curvilinear regression. When described by various degree polynomials the development course of the analysed features displays sex-related differences. Only the change in the weight of the adrenals is similar for both sexes. The evaluation of the developmental advancement
of the analysed features has revealed that they are usually at a more advanced development level in female foetuses.
Abstract
The study material comprised 3889 foetuses of both sexes, aged 20–42 weeks. t-Student test has been applied to evaluate the existence of potential sex-dependent differentiation of developmental trends as assessed by weekly measurements of selected somatic features and by the weight of internal organs. The regression coefficients of the analysed variables have been compared against the opposite sex. The rate of development of the analysed features in consecutive
weeks has been found to be sex-related. Highest sex-related differences have been observed for the total body weight and for the weight of internal organs, with the exception of the adrenals, and the differences have been significant enough to justify the existence of contrasting, sex-dependent patterns of development of the analysed variables. The development of the analysed
morphological features has been depicted by curvilinear regression. When described by various degree polynomials the development course of the analysed features displays sex-related differences. Only the change in the weight of the adrenals is similar for both sexes. The evaluation of the developmental advancement
of the analysed features has revealed that they are usually at a more advanced development level in female foetuses.
Keywords
foetal sex differentiation; rate of feature development; developmental maturity; feature development
Title
Sex dimorphism in development dynamics and in development progression of morphological features in human foetuses
Journal
Folia Morphologica
Issue
Vol 62, No 1 (2003)
Article type
Original article
Pages
33-39
Published online
2002-12-04
Page views
596
Article views/downloads
1378
Bibliographic record
Folia Morphol 2003;62(1):33-39.
Keywords
foetal sex differentiation
rate of feature development
developmental maturity
feature development
Authors
Małgorzata Waszak
Krystyna Cieślik
About this article