Chronological Changes in Microanatomy of Human Foetal Liver – Current Insight

Dr Mohan Angadi; Dr V D S Jamwal; Dr Annapurna Angadi

Volume : VII, Issue : IV, April - 2017

Chronological Changes in Microanatomy of Human Foetal Liver – Current Insight

Dr Mohan Angadi, Dr V D S Jamwal, Dr Annapurna Angadi

Abstract :

Background: Liver is the largest compound gland in the body. It plays a major role in metabolism and has a number of exocrine and endocrine functions in the body. It is known that function of an organ depends on histological maturation of that organ. By studying the microscopic structure of liver at various fetal ages will help to establish the time when the liver becomes fully functional.

Aim: Study the microscopic structure of fetal liver at various gestational ages

Material and methods: In the present study 50 liver specimens were collected from formalin fixed fetuses of 10 to 40 weeks of gestation. These fetuses included spontaneous abortions, stillborn fetuses, and preterm babies and also a few autopsy specimens obtained from the various departments of our institution. Then the dissected organs were placed in containers with 10% buffered formalin solution and subjected to routine histological procedures for age related micro anatomical study.

Results: The normal sequence of micro anatomical structure of human fetal liver at different gestational ages was studied by noting the microscopic structure of liver at these stages i.e. changes in organization of hepatocytes and plates of hepatic cells, appearance of central veins and sinusoids, formation of portal triad.

Conclusion: There was local variation in the normal microscopic structure of liver observed during the present study and all findings were grossly comparable with earlier studies except few.

Our study has been planned to provide an insight into the microstructure of human fetal liver during different gestational age of fetal development and compare the findings with similar studies available in literature in an attempt to facilitate the incorporation of the new frontiers of therapy and diagnosis of diseases.