Anatomical development of the normal urachus during the fetal period

To evaluate the development of the normal urachus during the fetal period. The study was carried out on 149 human fetuses [male 87, female 62] aged between 9-40 weeks, obtained with families' consent from Isparta Maternity and Children's Hospital, Isparta, Turkey, between 1997 and 2002. The study was carried out in the Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Suleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey during 2004. The type of the urachus was assessed and was classified. The length, antero-posterior depth, and the transverse width of the urachus were measured. Finally, the relationship between the urachus and umbilical arteries was evaluated during the fetal period, whether they ran parallel to each other. Two types of urachus were observed: the inverted funnel [84%] and tubular [16%]. The length, depth, and width of the urachus increased with gestational ages in all cases. A 2% variation was observed in the neighborhood between urachus and umbilical artery. Comparing our results with previous studies, the development of the urachus can be different in neonates and children. The mean urachus length was 14.8 -/+ 7.7mm during this period. The inverted funnel type is the most common type in our study. Hence, there can be some differences in the relationship between the urachus and umbilical arteries. The data obtained in the present study can be used as base knowledge related to the development of the urachus, and for evaluating the urachus in utero pediatric urology, radiology, pediatric surgery, and fetopathology

proportions of the white and red pulps of the human fetal spleen

To compare the proportions of white and red pulps of the human spleen during the fetal period. We performed this study in the Department of Anatomy and Pathology of Suleyman Demirel University, Faculty of Medicine, Isparta, Turkey, from the period between 2002-2003. Spleens from 137 dead fetuses aged between 9 and 40 weeks were embedded into paraffin blocks following classical histological steps and stained with hematoxylin and eosin. White and red pulps could be differentiated only in 25 cases [13 males, 12 females]. The proportions of the areas of white and red pulps [the trabeculae were included into the red pulp and the groups of lymphocytes were included into the white pulp] were estimated by point counting method on the sections taken from different parts of the spleens by systematic randomized sampling technique. It has been ascertained that the white pulp has been distinguished from 20th week onwards during the fetal period. The proportion of the white pulp area has been found to be 22.3% [of total white and red pulp areas] at the 20th week and has come to 37.6% at the 40th week. Concerning the trimesters, the proportion of the white pulp area has been found to be 30% [of total white and red pulp areas] at the 2nd trimester and has come to 36% at full term. While the white pulp area had a positive correlation with the gestational age [r: 0.34], the red pulp area had a negative one [r: -0.34]. No difference has been found among gender. Reference values have been obtained about the proportions of white and red pulp areas of human fetal spleen

Development of the liver during the fetal period

To investigate the development of the liver in human fetuses aged between 9-40 weeks. We studied 121 human fetuses [62 males, 59 females] with no external anomalies aged between 9-40 postmenstrual weeks during 2003-2004 in Suleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey. The fetuses were divided into four groups as 1st, 2nd and 3rd trimesters and full term fetuses. We measured fetal weight, length, width, thickness, and volume of the liver. We established localization of the liver and its relation with the neighboring structures, its ligaments, and size of itself and its lobes, shapes of the liver and the localization of the porta hepatis on the visceral surface of the liver. We found significant correlations between the size, weight, volume of the liver, sizes of its lobe and gestational age [p<0.001]. Group comparisons disclosed significant differences between groups in all parameters except between 3rd and 4th groups with respect to the heights of the liver and the caudate lobe [p<0.05]. During the fetal period, the proportion of the distance between the porta hepatis and the right margin of the liver to the distance between the porta hepatis and the left margin of the liver did not change significantly [p>0.05]. However, the proportion of the distance between the porta hepatis and the upper margin to the distance between the porta hepatis and the lower margin decreased significantly with gestational age [p<0.05]. Type 3 liver [square] was the most commonly observed type of fetal liver [53%]. Our opinion is that the parameters obtained can be useful to diagnose pathologies of liver development and anomalies concerning several branches of medicine such as anatomy, pathologic anatomy [fetopathology], forensic medicine, medical imaging, obstetrics and pediatrics