Age-Related Changes of the Human Fetal Kidney Size

Vol. 182, No. 3-4, 2006

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Original Paper

Age-Related Changes of the Human Fetal Kidney Size
Slobodan Vlajkoviç, Ljiljana Vasoviç, Marija Dakoviç-Bjelakoviç, Rade Ccaron ukuranoviç

Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Niš, Niš, Serbia and Montenegro

Address of Corresponding Author

Cells Tissues Organs 2006;182:193-200 (DOI: 10.1159/000093968)

Key Words

Fetal kidney
Kidney dimensions
Kidney volume

Abstract

Early prenatal diagnostics and the importance of genetic counseling are of great interest for echosonographic evaluation of normal fetus anatomy. Development of the human fetal kidney runs through a series of continual and mutually dependent changes during which the kidney obtains its morphological and functional maturity. This study was created to estimate the changes in kidney size during gestation in fetuses from the 4th to the 10th lunar month, to evaluate the dynamics of their growth, as well as to establish the validity of the volume calculated from these dimensions. Serial measurements of kidney dimensions (length, width, thickness) were performed in 110 fetuses. Photomicrographs of kidneys from the 4th, 6th, 8th and 10th lunar months are also presented. On the basis of the results obtained by our examination, we concluded that the period from the 14th to 16th week of intrauterine life is the fastest period of kidney growth during fetal development. Using the ellipsoid formula for calculating the fetal renal volume offers an underestimation of about 32-33% on average. The importance of this study lies in determining the average fetal kidney dimensions, which could be used as standard values in obstetrics.

Author Contacts

Slobodan Vlajkoviç, MD, MS
Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Niš
Bul. 'Dr Z. Ðin dstrok iça' 81
YU-18000 Niš (Serbia and Montenegro)
Tel. +381 1857 0029, Fax +381 1823 8770, E-Mail sloti@ptt.yu

Article Information

Accepted after revision: April 22, 2006
Number of Print Pages : 8
Number of Figures : 3, Number of Tables : 5, Number of References : 27

Medline Abstract (ID 16914921)

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