Characteristics of the fetal hyaloid artery in the intermediate fetal period of human ontogenesis

Abnormality of hyaloid artery reverse development leads to opacity of eyeball transparent media and formation of congenital cataracts. Purpose of the study was to identify individual, age, sex differences and the growth rate of the hyaloid artery of fetuses artery in the intermediate fetal period prenatal ontogenesis with the help of intravital ultrasound imaging method. Material and Methods. The object of the study were 100 fetus eyeballs at the age of 16-27 weeks of prenatal ontogenesis. The study was performed on Samsung HS 70 (A) by a microconvex sensor 5-9 MHz. All objects were divided into age groups (the first group: 16-19 weeks, the second group: 20-23 weeks and the third group: 24-27 weeks). Of these, 50% are male, 50% are female. Results. The length of the hyaloid artery in the fetuses in the intermediate fetal period of prenatal ontogenesis was studied by ultrasound in vivo imaging. It averaged in the first group 44±09 mm, the second is 5.4±0.6 mm, the third 8.5±0.8 mm. Bilateral differences were not detected. Differences in growth rates of male and female fetuses are revealed. Conclusion. The length of the hyaloid artery can be studied by in vivo imaging. The hyaloid artery has no pronounced bilateral and sexual differences. Differences in growth hyaloid artery in fetuses of different sex, which was a uniform increase in its length in female fetuses and heterochronic growth of the fetuses is male.