Sexual dimorphism in cervical vertebral canal measurements of human foetuses

Abstract

Little is known about postembryonic development of the human vertebral canal. Cervical parts of vertebral canal in 30 normal human foetuses was exposed in coronal plane and were divided in groups 1 and 2 which correspond with 2nd and 3rd trimester of pregnancy respectively. Groups 1 and 2 included 18 and 12 foetuses respectively with equal number of males and females in each. Length of cervical part of spinal canal and transverse diameter with height at different vertebral levels were recorded. Sexual dimorphism was noticed in foetuses of third trimester only. Length of cervical canal and height of vertebral bodies were significantly more in males while transverse diameter was statistically high in females. Cervical part of vertebral canal in human fetuses displays sexual dimorphism. Males have narrower and longer spinal canal compared to females.

Keywords: foetuses, cervical, vertebral canal, dimorphism