Histomorphometric characterization of the interventricular sep-tum in human specimens from Carnegie stage 14 to the early fetal period
Keywords:
embryonic heart , morphometry, interventricular septumAbstract
Introduction: The interventricular septum, whose hypertrophy is part of some heart diseases and results from maternal factors such as diabetes mellitus. Objective: To morphometrically describe the development of the interventricular septum in human embryos and fetuses.Methods: A quantitative, descriptive, and cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2024 to June 2025 in the morphometry laboratory of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Medical Sciences of Villa Clara. The sample, performed by intentional non-probability sampling, consisted of 23 embryos and 4 fetuses from the early period. Morphometric data were obtained using ImageJ software.Results: The mean thickness at the basal region of the septum was 209.79 µm, increasing from 73.67 µm to 307.70 µm. In the apical region, the mean thickness was 184.20 µm, increasing from 89.93 µm to 345.51 µm. The mean length was 942.37 µm, ranging from 253.50 µm at Carnegie stage 14 to 1357.61 µm during the fetal period studied. Area values were converted to mm2. The mean septal area was 0.26 mm2, ranging from 0.01 mm2 at Carnegie stage 14 to 0.27 mm2 during the fetal period studied. Conclusions: Measurements obtained from the interventricular septum reveal the anatomical irregularity of this structure. The interventricular area shows continuous growth as the specimens develop.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Mirka Navas Contino, Daniel Hernández Torres, María Aimée Vilas Bormey, Gustavo de Jesús Bermúdez Yera, Elibet Chávez González
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