Early prenatal attainment of adult metacarpal-phalangeal rankings and proportions

Abstract

As shown in 56 human embryos and fetuses between 15 and 104 mm in crown-rump length, "adult" metacarpal-phalangeal length rankings are attained by the seventh intrauterine week and near-adult bone-to-bone ratios or proportions by the theirteenth week. Micrometric measurements of optically-projected histological hand sections show relative elongation of the distals between the 15-29 mm and 30-44 mm crown-rump range, and relative reduction to radiogrammetrically-determined adult proportions by the 90-104 mm CRL.