[Japanese reference man 1988-IV. Studies on the weight and size of internal organs of Normal Japanese].

The weight and size of 12 main internal organs of Normal Japanese were measured at the Tokyo Medical Examiners Office, where the autopsies have been carried out on sudden death cases. This report selected, 5,600 cases with little or no pathological body change, from approximately 18,000 total autopsy cases, during the period of 1970-1980. The organs were divided into 23 groups according to age and sex. Mean value and standard deviation were calculated for each group, using a CDC-6600 scientific computer. The data in this report were compared with the data of 1952, when people were in starvation after termination of the World War II. At that time, several organs were decreased in weight by 8% in liver, 15-20% in kidney, heart, spleen and adrenal gland, respectively. However, pituitary gland showed an 18% increase while brain and thyroid showed almost the same value. Other organs measured were lung, liver, pancreas and testis.