The growth of the upper and lower extremities of Turkish fetuses during the fetal period

Prenatal analysis of the fetal structures gives us information about fetal growth and gestational age. The aim of this study was to investigate the mo rphologic structure of the upper and lower extremities of Turkish fetuses d uring the fetal period, to measure the morphometric values, and to determin e the relationship between CRL (crown-rump length) and growth of the foot. In this study, 106 human fetuses (56 males, 50 females) without external an omalies and aged between 10-40 post-menstrual weeks (PMW) were studied. In the upper extremity, the width of shoulder and the length of the arms, fore arms and hands were measured. In the lower extremity, the width of the ilia c crest, knee condyles, feet, and heels and the length of the thighs, legs and feet were measured. A significant correlation was found between all par ameters taken within the fetal period and PMW (p < 0.001). Statistically si gnificant correlations found between foot-growth measurements and fetal par ameters indicate that foot length may be a good predictor of age. The measu rements of the upper and lower extremities during fetal period are a reliab le parameter for use in the assessment of gestational age. These measuremen ts are particularly useful when other parameters do not accurately predict gestational age in some cases such as hydrocephalus, anencephaly, short-lim b dysplasia. Our opinion is that the measurements can be useful to assess g estational age in several fields such as anatomy, pathologic anatomy (fetop athology), forensic medicine, medical imaging, obstetrics and pediatrics.