Features of the structure of the muscles acting on the hip joint of the human fetus

Aim - to identify the features of the anatomical structure of the muscles acting on the hip joint in the fetal period of prenatal ontogenesis. Material and methods. The study was carried out on corpses of 200 fetuses aged from 12th to 38th weeks. Anatomical and morphometric research methods were used. Results. As a result of the study, it was established that the muscles of the pelvis and thigh of the fetus are different from the definitive ones: more heads are noted, a different direction of force action vector, functional indicators of the extensor and rotator muscles prevail. There are critical periods of organogenesis of functional muscle groups. Conclusions. The main trend of organogenesis of the muscles of the pelvis and thigh is the fusion of small muscle insertions into larger organs. A feature of the fetal muscles acting on the hip joint is the morpho - functional predominance of the insteps and adductor muscles that create the necessary conditions for the hip joint morphogenesis. The 20th-22th and 28th-30th weeks of intrauterine development are critical periods in human hip joint morphogenesis.