External diameters of the pulmonary arteries in human foetuses: an anatomical, digital and statistical study

Abstrakt

This study defines the growth patterns for the external diameters of the pulmonary arteries in human foetuses, including relationships with sex, side of body (right–left) and foetal age. Using anatomical dissection, digital-image analysis (system of Leica Q Win Pro 16) and statistical analysis (ANOVA, regression analysis), a range of external diameters for the right and left pulmonary arteries in 128 spontaneously aborted human foetuses aged 15–34 weeks was examined. No significant gender differences were found (p > 0.05). In the examined age range the values of the external diameter of the right pulmonary artery ranged from 0.97 ± 0.24 to 2.95 ± 0.89 mm, according to the linear function y = –0.7753 + + 0.1148 x ± 0.4580 (r = 0.83; p < 0.001). The values of the external diameter of the left pulmonary artery ranged from 0.88 ± 0.25 to 2.63 ± 0.80 mm, in accordance with the linear relationship y = –0.6228 + 0.1007 x ± 0.4280 (r = 0.81; p < 0.001). The external diameters of the right pulmonary artery were greater than those of the left pulmonary artery (p < 0.001). Parallel to the increase in the values of the external diameters of both the pulmonary arteries, the pulmonary artery-to-ascending aorta diameter ratio (the relative diameter of the pulmonary artery) decreased with advanced foetal age from 0.46 ± 0.10 to 0.43 ± 0.13 for the right pulmonary artery, and from 0.43 ± 0.10 to 0.39 ± ± 0.12 for the left one. The growth curves generated may be useful as reference data for foetal diagnosis. 

(Folia Morphol 2008; 67: 240–244)