Methodological approaches to the study of cardiac spatial transformations during ontogenetic development

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.26641/1997-9665.2025.4.6-12

Keywords:

heart, ontogenesis, morphogenesis, spatial rearrangements, three-dimensional modeling.

Abstract

Embryonic heart morphogenesis is a complex and dynamic process, and its mechanisms remain incompletely understood. A wide range of methods are used to study spatial transformations of the heart and its chambers, including histological methods, scanning electron microscopy, optical scanning microscopy, microcomputed tomography, and combinations thereof. Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages. Numerous computer models of the heart have been created, based on the analysis of well-known embryonic collections. These models have provided a thorough morphometric study of embryonic organ transformations from Carnegie stages 11 to 23 (until the end of the 8th week of gestation). However, only a few similar studies exist in the early fetal period—from the 9th to the 15th week. It should be noted that this period of intrauterine development is extremely important for the final formation of the morphological profile of many cardiac defects. Furthermore, the early fetal heart is characterized by the greatest lack of information regarding the quantitative parameters of the numerous developing structures in various cardiac chambers. Thus, many details of cardiac morphogenesis are only now being elucidated, in part due to the complex geometric transformations of the chamber cavities and wall structures. These details contribute to a better understanding of the architecture of the embryonic heart and allow for the quantitative assessment of a wide range of chamber geometric parameters and heart wall structures. They also offer a new tool for studying normal cardiogenesis and the development of congenital heart defects. This makes it crucial to use modern tools for 3D modeling of the developing heart based on visual information obtained using classical light and electron microscopy.

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Published

2025-10-30

How to Cite

Chelpanova , I., Paltov , Y., Smolkova , O. ., & Yashchenko , A. (2025). Methodological approaches to the study of cardiac spatial transformations during ontogenetic development. Морфологія / Morphologia / Morfologìâ, 19(4), 6–12. https://doi.org/10.26641/1997-9665.2025.4.6-12

Issue

Vol. 19 No. 4 (2025)

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