Prenatal development of the human trachea.
The tracheas of 46 human foetuses were examined: 26 male, 20 female with C-R length of 99-255 mm. The analysis of the total length of the trachea was carried out and its transverse dimension was presented on three levels: on the first tracheal cartilage, in the mid-length of the trachea, and at the bifurcation into the main bronchi; also the proportions between these dimensions and the C-R length were analysed. The length of the trachea was measured in a straight line--from the end of larynx to the bifurcation of the trachea. Comparing tracheas to a tunnel with two openings, it was observed that the transverse dimension, the "laryngeal", is greater than the "bronchial"--in the case of smaller foetuses by 2 mm, but in foetuses with C-R length of over 250 mm by 1 mm. Moreover, no significant differences between male and female sex were noticed. All the measurements were taken with the use of a slide caliper. The results should be useful in the detection of abnormalities in the structure of the trachea, in problems with respiratory physiology and in endotracheal intubation, endoscopy or tracheostomy.
Adamiec
Ewa
E
Department of Anatomy, Pomeranian Academy of Medicine, Al. Powstańców Wielkopolskich 72, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland.
Dzieciołowska-Baran
Edyta
E
Czerwiński
Florian
F
Miklaszewska
Danuta
D
Teul
Iwona
I
D000886:Anthropometry; D002356:Cartilage / Q000196:embryology; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000196:embryology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D014132:Trachea / Q000196:embryology*