The vascular architecture of human fetal oviduct : a scanning electron microscopic study of corrosion casts

Vascular architecture was investigated, in 18-21 week old human fetuses, for the first time with the use of corrosion casting and scanning electron microscopy, which offer high resolution and three-dimensional images of the vascular networks. The general arrangement of large vessels was similar to that described for the mature oviduct; however, the intramural vasculature of the muscular layer and mucosal folds consisted predominantly of capillary and sinusoidal networks. A characteristic feature of the fetal oviduct was a prominent sub-serosal venous plexus, which was most extensive in the isthmic segment. The relatively low degree of differentiation found in the fetal oviduct vasculature seems to reflect its functional immaturity.