title: Measurement of quadriceps muscle thickness and subcutaneous tissue thickness in normal children by real-time ultrasound imaging.
abstract: A reproducible ultrasound imaging technique is described for measurement of midthigh muscle and subcutaneous tissue thickness. We studied 276 children including those attending hospital outpatient clinics with non-neurological disorders, newborn babies on the obstetric wards, and children attending a local primary school. There was no significant difference in muscle depth between girls and boys, but girls had a significantly greater subcutaneous tissue depth than boys. The results of this study provide a basis for the study of muscle atrophy and hypertrophy in neuromuscular disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Royal Postgraduate Medical School, Hammersmith Hospital, London, England.
authors.forename: J Z
authors.initials: JZ
authors.lastname: Heckmatt
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pier
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Dubowitz
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009132:Muscles / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D012016:Reference Values; D012737:Sex Factors; D013848:Thigh / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D014463:Ultrasonography