Cytotrophoblast

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Cytotrophoblast
Primary chorionic villi. Diagrammatic.
Secondary chorionic villi. Diagrammatic.
Gray's subject #6 47
Carnegie stage 5a
Days 8
MeSH Trophoblasts
Dorlands/Elsevier c_73/12278820

The cytotrophoblast (or layer of Langhans) is the inner layer of the trophoblast, interior to the syncytiotrophoblast in an embryo. It serves to anchor the embryonic chorion to the maternal endometrium.

Cytotrophoblasts are stem cells in the chorionic villi. During differentiation, mononuclear cytotrophoblast fuse together into the multinucleated syncytiotrophoblasts.

[edit] Invading cytotrophoblasts

These cells invade maternal uterine tissues and thus are in direct contact with maternal stroma and immune cells.

[edit] Additional images

Section through embryonic area of Vespertilio murinus to show the formation of the amniotic cavity.

[edit] External links

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