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A new method for objective assessment of organ position during human development (540.6)
Author(s) -
Bakker Bernadette,
Besselink Clara,
Hagoort Jaco,
Moorman Antoon
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.28.1_supplement.540.6
Subject(s) - notochord , anatomy , position (finance) , spinal cord , medicine , biology , embryo , embryogenesis , neuroscience , finance , economics , microbiology and biotechnology
It is generally accepted that throughout development organs change position to one another within the body. Nonetheless, clear‐cut reports are lacking. Therefore, we aimed to unambiguously determine the position of organs compared to spinal ganglia and vertebrae. Sections of human embryos from the Carnegie collection (CS14‐23 or 31‐60 days) were digitized. All organs were manually segmented and 3D‐reconstructions were made. To determine the position of organs, the intersection of the developing vertebrae with the notochord was used to generate planes perpendicular to the notochord, which were used to assess the position of an organ relative to the vertebrae or spinal ganglia. For the first time a method is presented to unambiguously determine the position of an organ, relative to the vertebrae or spinal ganglia during development. We illustrate the value of the method by an example of the supposed changing position of the kidney, which, in contrast to descriptions in current textbooks, does not change significantly from stage CS17 to CS23. This implies that the proposed relationship of the development of a horseshoe kidney and the inferior mesenteric artery is questionable, because the kidney remains in place, whereas the inferior mesenteric artery descents owing to significant growth of the aorta.