RADIOGRAPHIC STUDY OF HUMAN FETAL SPINE .1. DEVELOPMENT OF SECONDARY CERVICAL CURVATURE

  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 123  (JUL) , 777-782
Abstract
A study of lateral radiographs of 195 human fetuses from 8-23 wk revealed that the secondary curvature in the cervical spine developed at an earlier age. It may develop soon after the embryo first acquired a neck and began to uncurl. The early appearance of this curvature may be related to the early development of function in the muscles responsible for head extension. This movement was a basic component of the primitive gasp reflex. Although the embryo developed in flexion, the traditional assumption that such flexion was a consequence of fetal musculo-skeletal development was questioned. The concept of a normally flexed position for the fetus was probably misleading, since it did not take into account the wide range of movements of which the fetus was capable.

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