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Carnegie Stage   Figure

Junctional region of two trophoblast cells

Junctional region of two trophoblast cells

TEM of the junctional region of two trophoblast cells of a stage 3 embryo in vitro, 145-170 hours post-insemination (original magnification x18,000). Microvilli are highly developed in regions of intercellular junctional contact between trophoblast cells. On the surface facing the blastocystic cavity, microvilli of adjacent cells curve toward one another forming arched interdigitations over the junctions.

BC = blastocystic cavity (blastocoele)
L = lipid
Mv = microvilli
SC = sequestered cell

From: Lopata et al., 1982. Reproduced with permission of the publisher, John Wiley & Sons.


Keywords: arched interdigitations, intercellular junctional contact, lipid droplets, microvilli, sequestered cell(s), trophoblast, trophoblast cells


Source: The Virtual Human Embryo.