The surface area and volume of the human fetus.

The surface area and volume of 79 human fetuses (body weight 8-4080 g) were estimated by use of a geometric method. It was found that body surface area increased by a factor of about 70, and body volume by a factor of about 400, during the fetal period. Surface area (S, in cm2) was related to body weight (W, in g) and crown-heel length (L, in cm) according to the equation S = 6.4954 X W0.562 X L0.320 while volume (V, in cm3) was related to the same two variables by the equation V = 0.6065 X W0.752 X L0.638. The former equation was used to construct a nomogram for estimating the surface area of human fetuses and neonates.