Growth rate of body surface area and volume with respect to linear measures in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters of prenatal life
Panattoni, G.L.
Bollettino della Societa Italiana di Biologia Sperimentale 62(9): 1081-1086
1986
ISSN/ISBN: 0037-8771 PMID: 3801191 Document Number: 285892
The growth of body surface area (S) and volume (V) in 20 human fetuses (C-R L, 6.9-34.3 cm) was computed by means of a geometric method to analyse the S/V ratio in the last two trimesters of prenatal life. By linear and multiple regression analyses the correlation between C-R L, abdominal circumference, S and V was obtained. During the observed period body surface area and volume increase respectively by a factor of 25.6 and 85.4, while S/V ratio decreases by a factor of 3.3 mostly during the 3rd month. This observation shows a relationship between the end of the embryonic period and the trend to stability of S/V values, and therefore, to stability of fetal heat-exchanges.