Halychanska O. Morphogenesis and syntopy of organs and structures of the upper mediastinum in the perinatal period of human ontogenesis

Object - the age features of the structure and peculiarities of mediastinal organs and structures syntopy during the early period of human ontogenesis; objective - to find out the chronological sequence of the development and establishment of topographic anatomical relationships and structures of the upper mediastinum in fetal and early neonatal periods of human ontogenesis; methods - histological, macroscopic, production of topographic anatomical sections, a method of reconstructing graphics, ultrasound, x-ray, magnetic resonance imaging, morphometric; results – we were the first who, using complex morphological methods of study, established patterns of morphogenesis and chronological sequence of formation of the upper mediastinum, their space-time relationship with adjacent vessels and nerves, as well as with the fascia during fetal and early neonatal periods of human ontogenesis. The paper is the first to describe topographical and anatomical relationship between the vessels of mediastinum and pericardium in fetuses of different age groups; for the first time we found age-related changes of morphometric parameters of organs and vessels of the upper mediastinum during fetal and early neonatal periods of human development, marked by individual and age anatomic variability of the thymus, esophagus, trachea, aortic arch and its branches, as well as nerves within the upper mediastinum during the fetal period; we determined the periods of intense and retarded growth of organs and vessels of the upper mediastinum, which allows us to obtain new evidence-based data, which significantly complement current understanding of the patterns of ontogenetic timeline of fetal development; we established morphological background of the structural options and the topography of the upper mediastinum organs and structures, as well as some congenital defects of their development.