title: New patterns of the growing L3 vertebra and its 3 ossification centers in human fetuses - a CT, digital, and statistical study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study describes reference data for L3 vertebra and its 3 ossification centers at varying gestational ages.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using CT, digital-image analysis and statistics, the growth of L3 vertebra and its 3 ossification centers in 55 spontaneously aborted human fetuses aged 17-30 weeks was examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Neither sex nor right-left significant differences were found. The height and transverse and sagittal diameters of the L3 vertebral body increased logarithmically. Its cross-sectional area followed linearly, whereas its volume increased parabolically. The transverse and sagittal diameters of the ossification center of the L3 vertebral body varied logarithmically, but its cross-sectional area and volume grew linearly. The ossification center-to-vertebral body volume ratio gradually declined with age. The neural ossification centers increased logarithmically in length and width, and proportionately in cross-sectional area and volume.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  With no sex differences, the growth dynamics of the L3 vertebral body follow logarithmically in height, sagittal and transverse diameters, linearly (in cross-sectional area), and parabolically (in volume). The growth dynamics of the 3 ossification centers of the L3 vertebra follow logarithmically in transverse and sagittal diameters, and linearly (in cross-sectional area and volume). The age-specific reference intervals of the L3 vertebra and its 3 ossification centers present the normative values of clinical importance in the diagnosis of congenital spinal defects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Normal Anatomy, The Ludwik Rydygier Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Bydgoszcz, Poland. kizanat@cm.umk.pl
authors.forename: Michał
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Szpinda
authors.forename: Mariusz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baumgart
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Szpinda
authors.forename: Alina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Woźniak
authors.forename: Celestyna
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mila-Kierzenkowska
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000196:embryology*; D008297:Male; D010012:Osteogenesis; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed