Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 14, 2026

Human Fetal Blood Flow Quantification with Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Motion Compensation
Published on: January 7, 2021
The normal growth of the thoracic aorta in human foetuses
1Department of Normal Anatomy, the Ludwik Rydygier Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, the Nicolaus Copernicus University, Toruń, Poland. kizanat@cm.umk.pl
Abstract:
The present study was performed on 128 spontaneously aborted human foetuses aged 15-34 weeks in order to establish normal values for thoracic aorta dimensions at various gestational ages. Using anatomical dissection, digital-image analysis (the Leica QWin Pro 16 system) and statistical analysis (ANOVA, regression analysis) the growth of the length, the original and terminal external diameters and the volume of the thoracic aorta during gestation was examined. No significant gender differences were found (p>0.05). The growth curves were generated of the best fit for the plot for each morphometric feature against gestational age. Both the length and external diameters of the thoracic aorta increased in proportion to the advance in foetal age. The length ranged from 12.49+/-1.85 mm to 48.82+/-6.31 mm according to the linear function y=-19.654+2.0512x+/-3.5168. The original external diameter ranged from 1.25+/-0.28 mm to 5.65+/-0.48 mm according to the linear fashion y=-2.3834+0.2367x+/-0.3850. The terminal external diameter ranged from 1.15+/-0.26 mm to 5.18+/-0.45 mm, in agreement with the linear model y=-2.1438+0.2156x+/-0.3555 (r=0.96, p<0.001 for each feature). The volume of the thoracic aorta ranged from 15.75+/-8.06 mm3 to 1158.01+/-301.85 mm3 according to the quadratic function y=1376.2-154.42x+4.419x2+/-125.6 (R2=0.90). The growth curves generated from my data may be useful as a reference for foetal echocardiographers, who must distinguish abnormal from normal foetal development.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
The Aorta
The average diameter of the aorta is approximately 2-3 cm, but the size can vary depending on the section of the aorta and the individual's age, sex, and body size. The aorta is...
Thoracic Aorta
Development of Blood Vessels
The initial formation of this system is facilitated by the small amount of yolk present in the ovum and yolk sac. Blood vessels originate from...
Fetal Circulation
Two umbilical arteries transport blood from the fetus to the placenta. At the placenta, the blood absorbs oxygen and nutrients while simultaneously eliminating waste products. This oxygen-enriched and nutrient-rich blood then returns to the fetus through one...
Development of the Heart
As the embryo undergoes lateral folding, these paired tubes approach each other, merging into a single primitive heart tube by...
Abdominal Aorta
The celiac trunk, a singular artery, divides into the left gastric artery, which...

