title: Morphometric Study of Pancreas in Human Fetuses.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The pancreas arises from the endoderm as a dorsal and a ventral bud which fuse together to form the single organ. It extends transversely across the posterior abdominal wall from the duodenum to the spleen. Functionally, it is endocrine and exocrine.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study was undertaken to study the morphometry of human pancreas at different gestational age groups of normal, still born fetuses.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty aborted human fetuses (25 male and 15 female) of 12-40 weeks gestational age with no obvious congenital abnormality were obtained. The fetuses were dissected and pancreas was removed. The length and weight of the pancreas as well as height of its head were noted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  It was observed that there was increase in body weight and crown rump length with increasing gestational age. The average length of pancreas was 1.80 cm in 12thweek and 4.70 cm in 40thweek of gestation. The average height of pancreas head was 0.80 cm in the 12thand 2.70 cm in 40thweek of gestation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The knowledge of development of pancreas helps in planning new therapeutic interventions in the treatment of various congenital and functional pancreatic anomalies.
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Anatomy, Seth G.S. Medical College & K.E.M. Hospital , Mumbai, Maharashtra, India .
authors.forename: Abhijeet S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Dhende
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Anatomy, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College & Safdarjung Hospital , New Delhi, India .
authors.forename: Mahendra A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Kathole
authors.affiliation: Professor and Head of Department, Department of Anatomy, Government Grant Medical College & J.J. Hospital , Mumbai, Maharashtra, India .
authors.forename: Deepak S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Joshi
keywords: Crown rump length; Gestational age; Still born