Correlation of heart external dimensions with body external dimensions of human foetuses

Abstract

In an evaluation of foetal hearts in II and III pregnancy semester, correlation with exterior foetal dimensions should be taken into consideration. It is interesting also if all exterior heart dimensions are correlated at the same level with overall body dimensions.
The subject of examination was 204 foetuses of both sexes, including 106 males and 98 females, in 5th and 6th month of foetal life. Foetuses were fixed for minimum 3 months in 9% formalin solution. They were taken from natural abortions, without exterior features of developmental malformations. Examined material was evaluated in month groups of morphological age. The number of foetuses in different groups was various. Exterior heart dimensions were considered: height, width, heart depth, and also heart circumference in coronary sulcus (atrial-ventricular). Exterior dimensions of foetuses were: vertex-plantare, vertex-tubulare.
All exterior dimensions of heart are closely and strongly correlated with both exterior dimensions of foetuses.