A Study on Morphometric Changes of the Suprarenal Gland at Various Stages of Development

Abstract

BACKGROUND The suprarenal glands are located just above the kidneys from their position the name is derived. They have no other relation to the kidneys, either functionally or developmentally. Their development is taken up at this place because of their intimate embryological relation to the autonomic nervous system. The relative prominence of the foetal adrenal in comparison to other abdominal viscera is accounted for by a mass of cells called the foetal zone between the area, which is later to become the adult cortex and the medulla. The aim of the study is to evaluate the morphometric parameters of human foetal suprarenal gland-shape, length, breadth, thickness and weight and to compare these parameters between the right and left sides to study the relation between the foetal adrenal gland size and kidney size and the relation between the foetal adrenal weight and body weight. MATERIALS AND METHODS The material for the study consisted of 50 human foetal specimens from 9 th to 38 th week of gestational age. Morphometric measurements including length, breadth, thickness, weight were taken from the right and left suprarenal glands in each specimen and to the results obtained Student's unpaired t-test was applied and data was analysed using GraphPad Prism 5.0 (free trial version). RESULTS In the 18 th week foetus, the right suprarenal gland acquired pyramidal and left suprarenal gland assumed semilunar shape and were yellowish in colour. There was a steady increase in the parameters from 9 th to 38 th week. A statistically significant difference was obtained for the length, breadth and weight between the right and left suprarenal glands with a 'p' value less than 0.05.