Morphometric and volumetric analysis of the middle cerebral artery in human fetuses

The morphometrical and volumetrical changes of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) during the fetal period of development were analyzed by digital-image analysis system (DIAS). Examinations were performed on 304 MCAs from 152 brains of human fetuses ranging from the 12th to 40th weeks of gestation. MCAs were analyzed with respect to its branching from the internal carotid artery and its division into the main cortical branches. No statistically significant differences were found between the mean values of the diameter, length and volume of the left and right M1 segments of the MCAs in all studied age groups.