title: Human otoconial crystal growth. An approach from morphological and morphometric data.
abstract: The otoconium genesis was evaluated by morphometric procedures using transmission and scanning electron-microscopic techniques for human fetuses of 50, 110, 134, 173, 210, 220 and 232 mm crown-rump length. Different otoconial crystalline habits were found. For the elongated otoconia (hexagonal prism) different parameters were measured: (1) the mean cleavage angle value of the terminal rhombohedron was 102 (SD 0.65), which was independent of the fetal age; (2) large and short axes show a linear growing law in function of the fetal age, and (3) the otoconial volume grows following a quadratic law. A hypothesis about the physicochemical growth conditions is postulated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, School of Medicine, University of Basque Country, Bilbao, Spain.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Fernández
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Rivera-Pomar
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Tello
mesh_terms: D003460:Crystallization; D006801:Humans; D010037:Otolithic Membrane / Q000196:embryology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012444:Saccule and Utricle / Q000196:embryology*