Assessment of Development of Atria, Ventricles and Gret Arteries During Intrauterine Period

Fetal echocardiography has been used in demonstrating fetal heart since 1970. However, the crossectional view of the heart could only be studied since 1980. In this study, intrauterine development of the chambers of the heart and great arteries were analysed. Two hundred-fourty pregnant women whose gestational ages were verified as 16-40 weeks, were included in the study. The cases were divided in 12 groups, showing periods of two consecutive gestational weeks, each including 20 subjects. The length and width of the heart chambers, wall thickness, volumes and sizes of the heart chambers, diameter of the aorta and pulmonary artery of the fetus were evaluated by echocardiography. It was roted that the dimensions of the heart chambers, the wall thickness, the volume and size of heart chambers were increasing increasing linearly but not exponentially during the gestational period. The ratios of the diameters of the right ventricle to the left ventricle, the right atrium to the left atrium. The ratios of the pulmonary artery to aorta and relative wall thicknesses were consistent with the gestational weeks. Right ventricle, right atrium and pulmonary arterial structures were shown to be slightly more dominant than the left side.