RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HEAD AND BRAIN PARAMETERS IN GOAT FOETUSES

Abstract

Growth dynamics of the head and brain were studied using 52 goat foetuses ranging from 1.4cm CRL (24 days of gestation) to 41.5cm CRL (full term). Head constituted almost one-half of the CRL during second month. Curved length of the cranium was greater than that of the face in all the age groups. Growth rates of 845.7 percent and 341.4 percent were recorded for cranial length and facial length, respectively during prenatal period. This indicated a faster growth of the cephalic region than the face during the foetal life. Curved and straight head lengths showed maximum correlation with the length of brain (r= 0.991 and 0.989, respectively). Regression equations derived from these can be used to predict the brain parameters from the head parameters during gestation. Unlike brain parameters, all the head parameters showed a greater increase during early gestation than in later stages. Calculated cephalic indices showed that in the first half of pregnancy, the foetal head was relatively shorter with a short facial region. In the second half, low cephalic indices indicated a comparatively narrower and relatively longer head

Keywords

• growth
• foetal head
• brain
• goat