[Quantitative investigation of embryonal motor activity by ultrasonic time-motion technique (author's transl)]

Using ultrasonic A and B-mode equipment (Kreta-Technik, gray-scale) 80 time-position scans of active embryonal movements were recorded in 60 pregnancies between 8 and 14 weeks of amenorrhea. The quantitative analysis of the echograms comprised 14 parameters of embryonal motility. The extent and the velocity of body excursions within the amniotic cavity increased significantly with gestational age. Determinations of embryonal size by measurement of the thoracic diameter made possible an evaluation of energetic development in early pregnancy.