Morphometric analysis of duodenum in human fetus

Abstract

Objective The mucosa of the duodenum is lined by finger-like villi. In adults, the villus height to width ratio is about 4–5:1. The aim of this study is to evaluate the villus height to width ratio in the human fetus. Methods Eighty-one human fetal autopsies were included in the study. Three random villi were measured with the X and Y-axes. The statistical analysis was performed by Pearson correlation, Kolmogorov-Smirnov, chi-square, linear regression tests, and Student’s t-test. Results There were 29 female and 52 male fetuses. The age range was between 12 and 40 weeks of gestation. Of 81 fetuses, 2 were in the first trimester, 73 in the second trimester, and 6 in the third trimester. The mean villus height to width ratios in the first, second, and third trimesters were 2.75±0.37, 3.21±0.17, and 3.76±0.6, respectively. There was no correlation between the week of gestation and duodenum villus height to width ratio (p=0.080). The mean villus height to width ratios among females and males were 3.62±1.28 and 3.02±0.84, respectively (p=0.014). Conclusion In our study, villi were blunter and shorter in fetuses than in adults but not in children regardless of weeks of gestation compared to the literature. The gradual elongation of villi after birth may be attributed to environmental factors.