title: Four-dimensional sonographic assessment of fetal facial expression early in the third trimester.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the characteristic patterns of facial expression in fetuses aged from 28 to 34 weeks using 4-dimensional (4-D) ultrasonography.
  
  
  METHODS
  The faces of 10 healthy fetuses aged from 28 to 34 weeks were recorded continuously for 15 min with a 4-D ultrasonographic machine performing up to 25 frames per second. The occurrence rates of blinking, mouthing, yawning, tongue expulsion, smiling, scowling, and sucking were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mouthing was the most frequent facial expression (median, 6.5; range, 2-19) whereas the least frequent were scowling (median, 1; range, 0-9) and sucking (median, 1; range, 0-2). Mouthing was evident in all fetuses and significantly more frequent than any other movement (P<.05). Yawning (median, 3; range, 0-6), smiling (median, 2; range, 0-9), and blinking (median, 1.5; range, 0-6) were observed in most cases. Tongue expulsion (median, 1.5; range, 0-5), scowling, and sucking were each observed in 6 cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  4-D sonography provides a means of evaluating fetal facial expression early in the third trimester. It may be a key to predicting fetal brain function and well-being and an important modality in future fetal neurophysiologic research.
authors.affiliation: Department of Perinatology and Gynecology, Kagawa University School of Medicine, Miki, Kagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Shu-Yan
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.forename: Nasima
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Akther
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kuno
authors.forename: Toshihiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yanagihara
authors.forename: Toshiyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hata
mesh_terms: D001767:Blinking; D005145:Face / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000196:embryology; D005149:Facial Expression; D005260:Female; D005324:Fetal Movement; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal / Q000379:methods