The development of orbita during the fetal period

Purpose: The development of orbita and surrounding region were evaluated with the anthropometric measure- ments in human fetuses during the intrauterine period. Materials and method: The study group constituted 140 (70 male, 70 female) fetuses without craniofacial or other anomalies or pathologies and ages ranging between 10 and 40 gestational vveeks. Fetuses nere divided into 4 groups as first, second, third trimesters and full-term. Nine anthropometric values from cranium and orbital region and chantal index were determined. Studied parameters were head circumference, head width, facial width, facial height, outer orbital distance, inner orbital distance, orbital height, orbital width, oro-palpebral distance and chantal index. Results: There were significant correlations between gestational age and ali parameters (p<0.001). There were significant differences between groups in ali anthropometric parameters (p<0.05). Chantal index significantly differed between first trimester and full term or second trimester and full term fetuses (respectively; p<0.05, p<0.01). Outer Chantal measurements showed more increments than inner chantal measurements during fetal period. İn fetal period, orbital width showed more increase than orbital height through full term. Conclusions: İt is determmed that there is no significant difference between sexes in respect to ali parameters (p>0.05). New data a e derived for fetal period to evaluate orbital development. VVe hope that our data will be useful in evaluation of fetal orbital development.