title: [Human lung topography in the early fetal period of ontogenesis].
abstract: Lung holotopy, skeletotopy and syntopy were studied in 70 human fetuses at developmental weeks 16-24 with N. I. Pirogov method, macro-microscopical preparation and using histotopographical sections in three imutually perpendicular planes. It was found that during weeks 16-18, the apex of the left lung was located posteriorly at the level of I intercostal space, at weeks 22-24--at the level of lower surface of I rib. At the right side, the apex was located at the level of upper surface of I rib during the whole period. The lower margin of the right lung was located at the level of IV rib during the whole period, while that of the left lung was detected at the level of III rib only during the beginning of the period. In the early fetal period, the projection of the root of the right lung extended from the lower margin of T(III) vertebral body toT(VI), while that one of the left lung was located at the level of the upper margins of T(IV)-T(VII) vertebral bodies. In the late period, these projections were found at the level of T(IV) (upper vertebral margin)--T(VII) (lower vertebral margin), and T(IV) (lower vertebral margin)--T(VIII) (upper vertebral margin) respectively. Intraorgan bronchi and pulmonary vessels were most clearly visualized in horizontal sections at T(III) -T(IX) levels. The results obtained should be taken into account when carrying out of diagnostic ultrasound and magnetic resonance studies of the fetus and surgical interventions on fetuses.
authors: Orenburg State Medical Academy, Orenburg, Russia
authors: L M
authors: LM
authors: Zheleznov
authors: S M
authors: SM
authors: Shcherbakov
mesh_terms: D005333:Fetus / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000196:embryology*