Size and location of the fetal diaphragm during the fetal period in human fetuses.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to determine the development and the size and localization of the diaphragm during the fetal period in human fetuses.


METHODS
One hundred and eighty-four diaphragm obtained from human fetuses aged between 9 and 40 weeks of gestation was used in this study. The localization of the diaphragm with respect to abdominal cavity and the level of costodiaphragmatic recess with respect to the ribs were determined. The dimensions (height, width, and depth) of the diaphragm were measured. The diameter and localization of apertures on the diaphragm were determined.


RESULTS
During the fetal period, the costodiaphragmatic recess was most commonly located at the level of the 9th rib. Means and standard deviations of the all parameters with respect to gestational weeks and months were calculated. No significant differences were observed between sexes for any of the parameters (P > 0.05). All parameters were increasing with age during fetal period. There was significant correlation between gestational age and all parameters (P < 0.001). The localizations of the diaphragmatic apertures did not change throughout the fetal period and aortic hiatus and oesophageal hiatus were most frequently situated to the left of the median plane.


CONCLUSIONS
New data are derived for human fetuses to evaluate diaphragmatic development. Data acquired in this study are believed to contribute to studies of obstetrics, perinatology, forensic medicine and fetal pathology on fetal development of the diaphragm, and diagnosis of its anomalies, pathologies and variations.
Malas
Mehmet Ali
MA
Medical Faculty, Department of Anatomy, Süleyman Demirel University, 32260 Isparta, Turkey. mamalas@hotmail.com
Evcil
Emine Hilal
EH
Desdicioglu
Kadir
K
D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003964:Diaphragm / Q000196:embryology*; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D012272:Ribs / Q000196:embryology; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric