Verification of selected anatomic landmarks used as reference points for universal goniometer positioning during knee joint mobility range measurements.

The study was concerned with verification of the selection of reference points used for knee joint mobility range goniometry. The verification was based on photometric and electrogoniometric methods of femorotibial angle measurements. The material for measurements were three knee joint preparations. The obtained data were subjected to descriptive analysis; photographic documentation of geometric relations between the reference points was also prepared. Considerable divergence of measurement results was observed with respect to the actual knee joint flexion angle, amounting even to 16 degrees. The differences are due to the selection of anatomic landmarks, and depend in particular on the distance of the point to which the goniometer axis is applied from the approximate location of the mechanical joint axis. The corrections of knee joint flexion angle measurements were also estimated on the basis of data obtained from the photographs and the derived mathematical formula.

Metric features of the iliopsoas muscle in late fetuses and adults.

Differences in structure of iliopsoas muscle were documented in studies performed on 12 human fetuses, aging 37 to 40 weeks of gestational life and on 20 adult individuals. Results of measurements performed on the muscle were compared between fetuses of the perinatal age and adult individuals. Indirectly, the comparison allowed to draw conclusions as to changes in the muscle structure which take place in between the two developmental stages. The process was monitoring applying the metric techniques of studies and statistical interpretation of the results.

The formation of heart-proportion in fetal ontogenesis.

In the paper, the formation of basic heart proportions in the period from the 19th to 43rd week of intrauterine development was investigated. The material consisted of 1505 fetuses (930 male and 575 female). Length, width and thickness of the heart were measured to 0.1 mm on unpreserved fetus material within 24 hours after stillbirth or death, in the natural position of the organ. The material was divided into groups representing seven developmental periods, from the 5th to the 10th lunar month. Individuals from the 41st-43rd week were recognized as carried beyond term and included in the age category above the 10th month (< 10). Formation of heart proportions was investigated on the basis of a statistical analysis of the results, with both sexes considered separately. Evaluation of the research results confirmed previous results indicating a slightly different shape of the heart in the fetal period. In addition, the results show the changes that occur in heart proportions during the period of intrauterine development. A comparison of these proportions with analogous indices in adult individuals makes it possible to predict further developmental changes in the postnatal period. In comparison to the conical heart found in a grown-up individual, the fetal heart is more spherical. At the beginning of the fetal period, the length dimension of the heart is greater than its width. Beginning with the 9th month of development, a relatively slower elongation of the heart occurs in favour of a more rapid increase in its width dimension.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Asymmetry and sexual dimorphism of lungs weight in fetal ontogeny.

1079 male fetuses and 727 female fetuses at the age of 20 to 41 weeks were investigated for the process of asymmetry and sexual dimorphism of lungs weight formation as well as developmental correlation between the weight of the lungs and the size of the heart. Statistical analysis of the results was applied. It was ascertained, among others, that asymmetry of lungs weight occurs in the investigated developmental period--the right lung is heavier than the left one about 20 to 30%. Between the increase in the weight of the lungs and the size of the heart positive correlation occurs, but it is not of directed character. A substantial, intersexual differentiation of lungs weight was not ascertained.

Formation of extensor digitorum muscle proportions before and after birth.

Studies on the formation of the extensor digitorum muscle morphological characteristics were carried out on material of 85 human fetuses (42 males and 43 females), 16 to 36 weeks old, and 45 adults (31 males and 14 females). Intermediary conclusions were drawn on probable changes occurring in the morphological formation of the muscle after birth, as a result of comparing proportions of the muscle at the fetal stage with its form in adults. In this work, the anthropometric method of study and statistical analysis of results have been applied. Analysis of the results in the fetal group has shown that all metrical characteristics of the muscle reach their maximum values at the end of the investigated ontogenetic space. This is, naturally, a consequence of evolution and growth of all fetal body measures, including elongation of forearms. However, the evolution of the individual muscle characteristics is not regular and though the direction of this growth is similar, its extent varies, and also differs slightly in sexual groups. Comparison of the values of muscle indices for 9 month old fetuses with the same indices for adults shows that relative dimensions of all investigated muscular characteristics decrease during the post-natal period except the relative length of the tendon.

Sexual dimorphism of the weight of internal organs in fetal ontogenesis.

The paper contains results of the investigation on the sexual differentiation of the weight of brain, heart, lungs, liver, spleen, kidneys, adrenal glands and thymus. The studies were carried out on a total of 632 fetuses (349 males and 283 females) and 1276 newborns (795 males and 481 females) in the age from 17 to 43 weeks of life. The study of sexual dimorphism of internal organs concludes that in the period of fetal development of man this dimorphism is weakly developed.

Changes in the weight of internal organs in the fetal ontogenesis.

The purpose of this work was the investigation of the development of the weight of brain, heart, lungs, liver, spleen, kidneys, adrenal glands and thymus, and the developmental relations occurring between them in human fetuses and newborns. The material covering 1908 individuals of both sexes (632 fetuses and 1276 newborns) was collected in the Department of Pathological Anatomy in Poznan. During clinical autopsies the weight of organs was determined exactly to 0.1 g and the body weight exactly to 5 g. The age of the individuals was determined on the basis of the mean conception time (14-15 day after the beginning of the last menses) and it ranged from 17 to 43 weeks of gestation. The material was divided into 7 developmental periods. The first 6 periods cover the moon months successively from the 5th to the 10th and the last period covers the three final weeks (41-43). The problems were analysed on the basis of a comprehensive statistical analysis and the obtained results of the significant statistical dependences between the organs were confronted with the biological changes of the investigated features taking place in the period of fetal ontogenesis.

Anthropomorphology of sternocleidomastoid muscle.

This paper present descriptive and metrical investigations of the sternocleidomastoid muscle. The studies were carried out on 54 human fetuses in the age from 12 to 24 weeks of intrauterine life. The observation results are presented against the background of the most frequent varieties of this muscle in the Primates. The muscle most frequently consisted of 2 heads: the sternal and the clavicular heads which terminated with a very wide attachment on the cranium--from the posterior edge of the external acoustic foramen to the plane of symmetry on the occiput. Very frequently the muscle heads were double or even triple or fourfold due to the occurrence of additional muscle bands. In several cases ther occurred the Wood's cleido-occipital muscle. The analysis of the metrical characteristics of the muscle has shown that in the investigated developmental period, the muscle attachments significantly increase, particularly between the 4 and 5 months. The increase of the width of muscle attachments is the consequence of the increase in the dimensions of the corresponding parts of the skeleton testified by the high correlation coefficients. No statistically confirmed dimorphic and asymmetric differences in the dimensions of muscle attachments have been found.

Morphology of splenii muscles in human fetuses.

Splenii muscles were studied in 60 human fetuses (27 males and 33 females) aged 14 to 25 weeks. The intersplenial triangle was present in all fetuses. The origins were displaced cranially and insertions were limited to smaller area than in adults. Numerous connections with adjacent muscles and more oblique course of muscular fibres were also observed.

Developmental relations between the weight of internal organs and somatic features of fetuses and newborns.

The paper contains results of investigations on statistical developmental interrelations between the weight of brain, heart, lungs, liver, spleen, kidneys, adrenal glands and thymus, and the total length, the crown-rump length and the body weight, and the circumference of head, shoulders, chest and abdomen of fetuses and newborns in the age from 17 to 43 weeks of life. The character and the force of the relations between the degree of the development of the weight of organs and the body dimensions was investigated by statistical methods on three levels. On the basis of the value of linear correlation coefficients, statistical relations were determined between the weight of the particular organs and the particular sometic features. The dependence between the particular organs and the complex of somatic features was determined on the basis on the multiple regression analysis. On the other hand the relation between two complexes of features, i.e. all organs and all somatic features was investigated with the help of canonical correlation coefficients. The analysis of results indicated that between the weight of internal organs and the somatic features in the fetal period there exists a statistical developmental relation. The developmental relations are most strongly marked between the 6th and the 10th months of intrauterine life, while in the 5th month of life and in postmature fetuses and newborns they are weaker.

The formation of the proportions of the liver, spleen and kidneys in the fetal ontogenesis.

The paper discusses the formation of basic proportions of the liver, spleen and kidneys between the 21st and 43rd week of pregnancy. 433 fetuses and 941 newborns, selected from 632 fetuses and 1276 newborns, were tested. Measurements of the length, width and thickness of these organs have been taken to the accuracy of 0.1 mm on unpreserved fetuses and newborns within 24 hours after still births or deaths. As the organs under study are parenchymatous, the measurements were taken in their natural position inside the body cavity. The material has been divided into six developmental phases, i.e. from the 6th till the 10th lunar month. Individuals born in the 41st-43rd week were considered to be prolonged and included in the age category older than the 10th month (less than 10). The formation of the proportions of the organs in question has been considered from the viewpoint of a statistical analysis separately for the fetuses and newborns. The analysis of the results confirmed descriptive data available to date about a slightly different shape of these organs during the fetal period and showed the direction of changes occurring in the basic proportions of the organs. Following the comparison of these proportions with appropriate indices in adults, it is possible to predict a further direction of changes in the postnatal period. During the fetal period the organs under study take the shape of the ellipsis since the width-thickness dimensions dominate over the length dimensions. In the postnatal period the organs become slimmer. Significant differences in the size and proportions of the organs under study between the fetuses and newborns have been found in the fetal period.