Morphometric Analysis Based On Length Of Vertebral Column In Different Age Group Of Indian Human Foetuses

• Introduction : Foetal  vertebral column  seemed  to be the focus of interest by many scientists but its morphometric information received  little attention  only in other animals, even though important for human clinical applications.  Morphometric readings of human  foetal  vertebral column will help in determining the age of foetuses, which  may  be of great medicolegal significance.
• Material and Methods: Foetuses without any congenital cranio-vertebral anomalies were selected for the study and divided into five groups on the basis of gestational age. Laminectomy was performed  and  the spinal cords from human foetuses  were taken out  for the proper visualization of vertebral column from behind . Length  of  vertebral column  was measured directly  by Vernier calipers under standard conditions.
• Result & Conclusion: Significant increment  in length of  human foetal vertebral column  was observed in successive adjacent groups from group II onwards. There was maximum increment   in length of  vertebral column between  groups II and  III  human foetuses.