High-resolution sonographic assessment of the fetal extremities

Recent advances in ultrasound technology, especially phased-array sonography, now permit striking visualization of fetal morphology. Although several reports document the sonographic appearance of the fetal appendicular skeleton, no reports describe the nonosseous structures of the fetal limbs. Prior to the middle of the second trimester of pregnancy, adequate size and intrinsic subject contrast enable distinction among numerous limb structures. The sonographic features of the fetal limbs are described, with emphasis upon the visible nonosseous structures. All images were obtained between August 1983 and January 1984 using a 128-channel phased-array real-time scanner (Acuson) with a 3.5-MHz transducer.