[Evolutionary aspect of spinal ligaments in the human fetus]

Preliminary histological observations concerning interspinal ligament, at level T1 T2 and far the 14th, 24th and 37th post-ovulatory (P.O.) weeks, are presented here. In an histological, then biological context, these observation take place into an evolutive study of the muscular and ligamentous material of the human fetus spine. The paraffin included biopsy sections were examined after being colored with Mallory blue and picro-indigo-carmin chlorhydric orcein. After 14 weeks P.O., an heterogeneous structure appears with muscular, mixt and fibrous fascicules in a polygonal cellulo-fibrous network. After 24 weeks P.O., the structure is entirely fibrous, in a long, plexiform web. The evolution become more acute after 37 weeks P.O. After chlorhydric orcein coloration, no elastic fibers were observed in the collagen network, during the first two stages of observation cholorhydric orcein coloration, however, revealed a small quantity of them, 37 weeks after ovulation.