Cellular junctions on the free surface of human placental syncytium.
Chorionic villi of human placenta at full term have been studied in thin section. On the free surface of syncytium, cellular junctions such as desmosomes, desmosome-like junctions and tight junctions, but not gap junctions, are present. Theories regarding the formation and functions of the junctions on the syncytial free surface are discussed.
D002824:Chorionic Villi / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D003896:Desmosomes / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007365:Intercellular Junctions / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008867:Microtomy