The quantitative topographical and anatomical characteristic of the human thymus in the intermediate fetal period of the ontogenesis

The research of a human thymus at stages of the intermediate fetal period of ontogenesis (16-22 weeks) has important practical value for specialists of various areas: immunology, children's endocrinology, fetal surgery. Development of a morphological basis of the human thymus topography is the key moment for the modern visualization methods allowing revealing functional disturbances of an internal organ. As object of research was 100 human fetuses aged from 16 till 22 weeks of development which was received at artificial interruption of pregnancy according to social indications. The complex of techniques was used in this work: macro and microscopic preparation, gistotopographical method and horizontal cuts planimetry. The quantitative assessment was carried out and the new data on extra organic human thymus topography in the intermediate fetal period of ontogenesis which was described in details depending on level and the fetus torsos cut plane were obtained. The results of the researches supplement information about human fetal thymus morphology and may be as a morphological basis for ultrasonography and MRT-research.