Morphometric characteristics of the floor of the oral cavity in human fetudes

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.26641/1997-9665.2025.3.29-36

Keywords:

floor of the oral cavity, prenatal development, mandible, morphometry, individual anatomical variability, fetus, human.

Abstract

Background. Morphometric analysis of the structures of the floor of the oral cavity in the age dynamics of the fetal period of human ontogenesis will allow to draw clear boundaries between the individual norm and pathology during diagnostic studies, which will contribute to the development of new and improvement of existing methods of prenatal diagnosis, prevention and correction of congenital and acquired diseases of the human dento-maxillofacial region. The objective is to determine the morphometric peculiarities of age-related and individual anatomical variability of the floor of the oral cavity. Methods. 123 computer tomograms of human fetuses were studied using the methods of three-dimensional reconstruction, morphometry and statistical analysis. Results. Measurement of absolute cephalometric parameters of the mandible, which characterize the age dynamics of the dimensions of the floor of the oral cavity, showed that, in particular, the interangular distance of the mandible, which characterizes the transverse size of the floor of the oral cavity and determines the shape of the lower part of the facial part of the head, increases logarithmically in human fetuses. In the dimensions of the body and ramus of the mandible of human fetuses, linear dynamics of morphometric changes are observed. The magnitude of the angles between the craniometric points in human fetuses changes linearly. The angle of the ramus and the angle of the mandible are characterized by a significant range of morphometric variability, which is explained by the individual constitutional features of the fetuses. Conclusions. 1. The interangular distance of the mandible, which characterizes the transverse size of the floor of the oral cavity, grows unevenly in the fetal period of human ontogenesis – at the 17th and 26-27th weeks, the growth rate slows down somewhat, and then continues to grow again from the 18th and 28th weeks of prenatal ontogenesis. 2. The length of the body and ramus of the mandible, which characterize the longitudinal size of the floor of the oral cavity, are marked by a straight trend line. 3. Multivariate analysis of the relationship between fetal age, cranial index and the size of the angle of the mandible explains the patterns of morphometric variability of the latter, which determines the shape of the floor of the oral cavity. The highest values ​​of the angle of the mandible (84.5±5.5°) are characteristic of brachiocephalic fetuses, and for meso- and dolichocephalic fetuses up to the 30th week of prenatal ontogenesis, lower values ​​of the angle of the mandible are characteristic – 78.5±3.5°, but they also decrease intensively by the end of the fetal period. 4. The facial angle in human fetuses is an important diagnostic craniometric parameter, as it has high-strength correlations (r=0.7-0.8) with the width, length and height of the body of the mandible, the height and length of its ramus and angle. The facial angle increases in dolichocephalic fetuses, but decreases in brachiocephalic fetuses and from the 22nd week – in euryenous fetuses, while in mesocephalic and mezenous fetuses it practically does not change.

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Published

2025-10-30

How to Cite

Burijuk , O., & Dmytrenko , R. (2025). Morphometric characteristics of the floor of the oral cavity in human fetudes. Морфологія / Morphologia / Morfologìâ, 19(3), 29–36. https://doi.org/10.26641/1997-9665.2025.3.29-36

Issue

Vol. 19 No. 3 (2025)

Section

Статті

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