Histometric study of the mean epidermal thickness from different regions of skin of human fetuses of 11-40 weeks of gestational age

Abstract

Introduction: Skin is the largest organ in the body. It forms the pigmented and protective external covering of the body and plays an important role in regulating body temperature. Learning its development is important for us for determining the gestational age of a fetus. The aim of this study is to measure the mean epidermal thickness from different regions of the body in fetuses ranging from 11-40 weeks of gestation. Materials and Methods: Measurement of epidermal thickness from abdominal, interscapular, scalp and palmar regions in 30 human fetuses of 11-40 weeks which were divided into 6 groups was done using Amscope 5MP Aptina MT9P001. Results: The mean epidermal thickness for abdominal skin was 5.04 ±0.97 µm for Group 1(11-15 weeks) which increased to 38.48 ± 2.62 µm in Group 6.Similarly, the mean epidermal thickness increased in interscapular, scalp and palmar regions but there was a difference in increase in the pattern of mean epidermal thickness in different regions. The thickness of abdominal epidermis was not similar to the thickness of interscapular, scalp and palmar skin in the same age group. Statistical tests used: T-Test and single factor ANOVA. P-value was calculated. Conclusion: Our study concluded that the epidermal thickness varied according the different regions of the body. But surely there was an increase in mean epidermal thickness from Group 1 to Group 6 in all the regions of the skin. Keywords: Skin, Mean epidermal thickness, Caliberation.