Crown-rump length


Crown-rump length is the measurement of the length of human embryos and fetuses from the top of the head to the bottom of the buttocks. It is typically determined from ultrasound imagery and can be used to estimate gestational age.

Introduction

The embryo and fetus float in the amniotic fluid inside the uterus of the mother usually in a curved posture resembling the letter C. The measurement can actually vary slightly if the fetus is temporarily stretching its body. The measurement needs to be in the natural state with an unstretched body which is actually C shaped. The measurement of CRL is useful in determining the gestational age and thus the expected date of delivery. Different babies do grow at different rates and thus the gestational age is an approximation. Recent evidence has indicated that CRL growth may be influenced by maternal factors such as age, smoking, and folic acid intake. Early in pregnancy gestational age 8 weeks, it is accurate within about +/- 5 days but later in pregnancy due to different growth rates, the accuracy is less. In that situation, other parameters can be used in addition to CRL. The length of the umbilical cord is approximately equal to the CRL throughout pregnancy.
Gestational age is not the same as fertilization age. It takes about 14 days from the first day of the last menstrual period for conception to take place and thus for the conceptus to form. The age from this point in time is called the fertilization age and is thus 2 weeks shorter than the gestational age. Thus a 6-week gestational age would be a 4-week fertilization age. Some authorities however casually interchange these terms and the reader is advised to be cautious. An average gestational period is 280 days. On average, this is 9 months and 6 days.

Gestational age estimation

A commonly used estimate of gestational age in weeks is :
Gestational age estimation in days is carried out according to the equations:
; and SD of GA = 2.39102 + .