Assessing Normal Histologic Patterns in Perinatal Tissue: A Practical Guide.

PURPOSE: This review is intended to provide practical guidance to those who examine the tissues of fetuses and infants under the microscope. We focus on what is normal at various stages of development, and try to point out when caution should be used in interpreting histologic findings.

CONTENT: We present descriptions and images of normal developmental histology and its variations in the major human organs during fetal and neonatal life. The organs reviewed include the cardiovascular system, lungs, liver, pancreas, tubular gastrointestinal tract, kidneys, thymus, adrenal glands, gonads, thyroid gland, spleen, brain, bone, and skeletal muscle.