Morphometric study of the diaphragmatic surface of the liver in the human fetus

Abstract

This study aimed to examine age-specific reference intervals and growth dynamics of the best fit for liver dimensions on the diaphragmatic surface of the fetal liver. The research material consisted of 69 human fetuses of both sexes (32♂, 37♀) aged 18-30 weeks. Using methods of anatomical dissection, digital image analysis and statistics, a total of 10 measurements and 2 calculations were performed. No statistical significant differences between sexes were found (p>0.05). The parameters studied displayed growth models that followed natural logarithmic functions. The mean value of the transverse-to-vertical diameter ratio of the liver throughout the analyzed period was 0.71±0.11. The isthmic ratio decreased significantly from 0.81±0.12 in the 18-19th week to 0.62±0.06 in the 26-27th week, and then increased to 0.68±0.11 in the 28-30th week of fetal life (p<0.01). The morphometric parameters of the diaphragmatic surface of the liver present age-specific reference data. No sex differences are found. The transverse-to-vertical diameter ratio supports a proportionate growth of the fetal liver. Quantitative anatomy of the growing liver may be of relevance in both the ultrasound monitoring of the fetal development and the early detection of liver anomalies.

Quantitative anatomy of the liver visceral surface in the human fetus

“…The differences between repeated measurements, as the intra-observer variation, were assessed by the oneway analysis of variance (ANOVA) test for paired data and post hoc Tukey's honest significant difference (HSD) test. 17 Thus, in order to examine the inter-observer reproducibility, the intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC) were calculated. In the present study, we used the STATISTICA v. 10 (StatSoft Inc., Tulsa, USA) and PQStat v. 1.6.2.…”

“…16 Knowledge on the normative liver growth is relevant in monitoring normal development and plays an essential role in prenatal detection of its malformations. 17 To date, however, apart from anatomical research on the quantitative analysis of the fetal liver performed by Albay et al, no nomograms concerning its visceral surface have been computed. 12 Thus, in the present study we aimed to examine the liver visceral surface, as follows:…”