Сharacteristics of the Uterus in the Fetal Period: Topographic and Morphometric Parallels

Abstract

Scientific literature covers separate data concerning development of the internal female reproductive organs and their age-related and individual anatomical peculiarities during the fetal and early neonatal period of human ontogenesis. The objective of the study is to find chronological succession of development and formation of topographic-anatomical interrelations of the uterus during the perinatal period of human ontogenesis. To achieve the purpose the following methods of morphological examination were used: macroscopic, common and thin section, microscopic, vessel injections, making topographic-anatomical sections, radiological, computed tomography, three-dimensional computed reconstruction, morphometric and statistical. The experimental material (fetal specimens) was divided into two groups: І group – 35 specimens of fetuses deceased during 2017-2019; ІІ group – 105 specimens of fetuses collected during 1995-2000. Physiological disappearance of the channel on the uterus is evidenced by the determined reliable reverse correlations of an average force (r = -0,34) between the width of the uterine fundus which parameters range from 6,0±0,21 mm to 6,4±1,60 mm, and parietal-calcaneal length (PCL) of the fetus. The periods of an intensive enlargement of the uterine morphometric parameters are determined: 4-5 months and 8-10 months. They are characterized by an accelerated enlargement of the uterine fundus width. Thickness of the uterine fundus is found to enlarge most intensively since the 9th month. The width of the uterine fundus in fetuses from II group, 7 months of gestation is reliably longer than that in 4 and 6-month fetuses from the same group (р˂0,05-0,001). This parameter is smaller than that of the 9 and 10-month fetuses (р˂0,05-0,001). It does not differ from the similar one in 8 and 5-month fetuses (р˃0,05). The width of the uterine fundus in 8-month fetuses from II group is reliably similar to that of 5 and 7-month fetuses from the same group (р˃0,05). This parameter is reliably larger than the width of the uterine fundus of 4 and 6-month fetuses (р˂0,001) and reliable smaller than that in 9 and 10-month fetuses (р˂0,05-0,001).