Development of the human cuneatus medialis nucleus: a morphometric evaluation.
The morphometric features of the development of the human cuneatus medialis nucleus (CMN) were examined using complete serial celloidin sections of 11 brains: nine fetal brains, the brain of a 2-month-old infant and that of a 63-year-old adult. The morphometric analysis revealed at least four stages in the development of the CMN characterized by the maturation of neurons: (1) immature neuronal stage, (2) preparatory stage, (3) accelerated development stage and (4) postnatal stage. The development of the human CMN accelerates after 32 weeks of gestation (WG), and postnatal qualitative maturation also occurs. From the viewpoint of morphometric evaluation, the CMN gradually matures between 18 and 40 WG without a rapid growth phase as far as we have observed.
Ma
Xiaoxin
X
Department of Anatomy, Showa University School of Medicine, 5-8, Hatanodai 1, Shinagawa-Ku, Tokyo 142-8555, Japan.
Goto
Noboru
N
Goto
Jun
J
Ezure
Hiromitsu
H
Nonaka
Naoko
N
D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008526:Medulla Oblongata / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology* / Q000254:growth & development*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology; D011247:Pregnancy