Open AccessMORPHOLOGICAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL STUDY OF HUMAN FETAL THYMUS GLAND IN KUMAON REGION
Author(s) -
Prerna Singh,
AK Singh,
D Deepa,
Richa Niranjan,
Anamika Jaiswal,
Vineet Sharma
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of anatomical sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 0970-1842
DOI - 10.46351/jas.v27i1pp22-26
Subject(s) - fetus , gestational age , gestation , anatomy , biology , pregnancy , physiology , medicine , pathology , genetics
A cross sectional study was conducted to observe morphological and developmental changes occurring in thymus gland at various gestational age among human fetuses. The morphometric measurements of thymus is useful in calculating size as intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) and cellular immune deficiency ofinfant is associated with a significant decrease in fetal thymic size.Materials & Methods: This study was carried on medically aborted and stillborn fetuses (n=31; F=21, M=10), which were obtained from Dr. Sushila Tiwari Memorial Hospital, Haldwani, (Uttarakhand,) with due consent of parents. Fetuses were preserved in 10% formalin. Thymic gland was dissected out to observe its weight, lengthand thickness.Results: Thymus glands were located in superior mediastinum. On gross examination, they were of greyish pink to greyish brown in colour. Most of the glands were bilobed and few were irregular in shape. There was progressive increase in all morphometric dimensions of thymus in relation to gestational age. Growth of right lobeof thymus was comparatively more than of left lobe.Conclusion: Thymic morphometric parameters in relation to gestational age can be used as reference values in imaging studies in the prenatal and in initial perinatal stages, so we could compare the normal morphology with that of in IUGR and immune deficiency.