Volumetric growth of the different regions of the fetal spine.

The Author analysed the volumetric growth of the spine ("centra" + intervertebral discs) from the 13th week to term of prenatal life. The data were obtained from the osteological collection of the Department of Human Anatomy and Physiology (University of Turin), by means of a geometric procedure. The growth rate was compared with the observations of other Authors on the growth of the linear measures and with the results of previous works on the anteroposterior curvatures of the developing spine. The analysis of the growth in volume of the various spinal regions, seems to admit temporo-spatial relationships only between the growth velocity of the lumbar region and the appearance of the lumbar lordosis.