Fetal Growth and Age Estimation based on Osteometry on the Diaphysis of Human Fetal Fibula

Very few osteometric studies are available on human fetuses dealing with fetal growth based on osteometric measurements. Earlier studies dealt with smaller sample size and measured only the length of long bones from chemically preserved fetuses. The present study is a pioneer one, measured on naturally maceratedfetal fibula bones. There have been six new osteometric measurements introduced on human fetal fibula. Maximum possible osteometric measurements taken on a record number of 912 fetal fibula bones from 456 fetuses having age range between 11 weeks to 40 weeks of intrauterine life.  Bilateral and bisexual differences have been analyzed. Growth of fetal fibula has been analyzed, based on its osteometry. The fastest rate of growth is observed in fetal fibula in females during 11 to 16 weeks of the intrauterine life of human fetus. For every 1 mm increase in the CRL, the Maximum Length of Fibula (fi-ml) is increased by .348 mm in the females. Regression values have been calculated to estimate human fetal age from the osteometric measurements on fetal fibula. Estimation of fetal age from the osteometry on fetal fibulais one of the crucial requirements in forensics.