Age and individual anatomical variability of intercostal nerves in human fetuses.

Performing fetal operations on the walls of the thorax and abdomen requires detailed information dealing with the anatomical variability of the intercostal nerves (IN) in human fetuses. Therefore, our study aimed at determining the topographic and anatomical characteristics of the I-XII IN during the period of human ontogenesis. The study involved 70 specimens of fetuses aged 4-10 months, by means of macromicroscopic preparation, superficial staining of dissected vessels and nerves and morphometry.