Spleen's relative growth in human fetuses.

The growth of the spleen weight was studied by bivariate allometry. It was correlated to fetal parameters of development as gestational age (in weeks), crown-rump length (mm) and weight (gm). Thirty human fetuses ranging from 16 to 36 weeks were studied. These were analysed in second and third trimesters separately and together. The growth of the spleen weight presents statistically significant positive allometry relative to age, C-R length and fetal weight. In second trimester the allometric coefficient, analysing spleen's weight and fetus' weight, calculated by reduced major axis method (RMA) was 1.21. In the third one the RMA was 1.73. Considering fetuses together the RMA = 1.65. This study presents growth curves of the spleen weight useful in medical branches such as anatomy, forensic medicine, medical imagery, fetophatology, obstetrics and pediatrics.