Developmental interdependence between selected somatic features and the weight of internal organs in human male and female foetuses

Abstract

The study material comprised 3889 foetuses of both sexes, aged 20-42 weeks and focused on developmental interdependence between the weight of the internal organs and their relation to selected somatic features during the prenatal period. The study also attempted to distinguish potential sex-related differences in the degree of statistical interdependence between the analysed variables. As a result, the analysis of linear and canonical correlation coefficients for consecutive weeks of foetal life has been carried out. High correlation coefficients have been obtained which indicate strong developmental interdependence between those organs and the somatic features. However, no significant sex-related differences in the developmental interdependence of the analysed variables have been observed.