Relative growth of the human temporal bone in the prenatal period.

Thirty right temporal bones of Brazilian fetuses (ranging from 14th to 36th weeks) were studied by the allometric method in order to define the pattern of the whole temporal bone weight growth and the weight growth of the temporal bone portions: squamous, petrous and tympanic. These data were compared to fetal weight. The increase of the data of the temporal bone shows a positive allometry except for the tympanic portion (isometry). The squamous portion shows the highest allometric coefficient. These data are important to the knowledge of the human skull growth.