Introduction: It is very important to accurately estimate the age of foetus for various medicolegal cases. This study is an attempt to establish a relationship between anthropometric measurements and histologic analysis of liver and kidney to identify gestational age of the foetus. Methods: The study was carried on 30 fetuses. Their anthropometric measurements were done using Vernier calipers. The data was statistically analyzed by computation to find out its normative value. Histologic analysis was done by preparing hematoxylin and eosin stained slides and looking under light microscope. The relationship between gestational age and data thus obtained was determined. Results: Size of liver and kidneys increased with every trimester. The kidney showed immature duct system and clustered glomeruli with lack of differentiation into cortex and medulla in first trimester. Tubular differentiation started in second trimester which finished in third trimester with formation of juxtaglomerular apparatus. Size of glomerulus was, however, maximum during second trimester, followed by first and third trimester. In liver, haemopoeisis was observed in first trimester which decreased with subsequent trimesters. Lobular differentiation increased with each trimester. However, full term liver did not have the classic lobular pattern. Size of sinusoids decreased with every trimester. Abundant fibrous tissue was observed around portal triad. Conclusion: There is a relationship between the gestational age and anthropometric measurements and histologic features of liver and kidney of the foetus. This will help in identifying foetal age as well as any congenital kidney and liver diseases.

Introduction: This study provides a description of development of various components of the human ureter at different gestational ages. Methods:Measurements of the length of the ureter from pelvi-ureteric junction to vesico-ureteric junction, length of its intravesicular portion and angle made by the ureter at the entry into the bladder with respect to the internal ureteric orifice were taken. Transverse sections of the ureter were taken at the upper end, close to the pelvi-ureteric junction, and at the midpoint between the pelvis of the kidney and the vesico-ureteric junction. These were subjected for processing and stained with Haematoxylin Eosin and Masson’s Trichrome. They were then studied under the light microscope. Results: The length of the ureter from the pelvi-ureteric junction to the vesico-ureteric junction showed a highly positive correlation with the gestational age (GA). The angle of entry of the ureter to the bladder decreased as the GA increased. The microstructure of the ureter in both the sections showed development of transitional epithelium with an increase in layers by 33 weeks. At 18 weeks, the smooth muscle layer was in a single layer with an abundance of interspersed collagen fibers. By 33 weeks, the thickness of the wall increased significantly with a decrease in collagen. There was no trace of longitudinal muscle fibers even upto 33 weeks. Conclusion: Epithelial, muscular and connective tissue components displayed significant changes during intra uterine development.

Knowledge of muscular, vascular, and neural variations in the axilla is of great clinical importance, especially in mastectomies, breast reconstruction, and axillary bypass operations. In the present paper, we report unilateral variations observed in the axillary region of a male cadaver. A fibromuscular axillary arch was observed on the right side. On the same side, there was a bifurcated axillary vein; a medial cutaneous nerve of the arm passed through and later ran beneath this axillary vein. In addition, the intercostobrachial nerve was absent on the right side. The clinical significance of the variations observed and their embryological basis are discussed in this paper.