Medisur (Nov 2012)
Can the skull-spine length predict heart size in human embryos?
Abstract
Background: embryo´s length is a global measure, relatively easy to estimate by trained personnel, and it is interesting to investigate its use as a predictor of the size reached by developing internal organs. Objective: To characterize cardiac development and its relationship to the length in human embryos. Methods: A descriptive, correlational and cross-sectional study was conducted at the University of Medical Sciences of Villa Clara, which included five specimens belonging to the Embrioteca of the Medicine School. The specimens were measured, processed trough paraffin method, transversally sectioned and digitalized with aesteroscopy-attached camera. 3.0 SCOPE PHOTO software was used for the study of the six cardiac variables. With SPSS 13,0 descriptive statistics was performed as well as correlation analysis and lineal regression. Results: In the weeks 6, 7 and 8, cardiac area was of 5,19; 4,66 and 8,02 mm2 and pericardiac area was of 7,11; 6,37 and 10,07 mm2. Anteroposterior cardiac diameter was of 2,33; 2,90 and 3,44 mm and transversally measured it was of 3,03; 2,52 and 3,65 mm. Anteroposterior pericardiac diameter was of 2,66; 3,37 and 3,61 mm and transversally measured it was of 3,35; 2,64 and 3,79 mm. Anteroposterior diameters of the heart and their cavity were significantly correlated to craneo-raquis length and lineal regression equations were obtained, thus allowing the calculation of these variables. Conclusions: The present study provides both, cardiac and pericardiac morphometrical values in human embryos between six and eight weeks. Craneo-raquis length in embryos can predict their cardiac and pericardiac size.
