Figure 4

Fetal surface of the paca placenta. (A) The visceral yolk sac (vys) attaches to the surface of the chorioallantoic placenta. Just before attachment it forms the fibrovascular ring (fvr). Left of the point of attachment, the endoderm continues as the parietal yolk sac (pys). To the right, the surface is covered by connective tissue. Masson's trichrome. (B) The parietal yolk sac endoderm (endo) forms a layer of epithelial cells that rests on Reichert's membrane (Rm). Immediately below the membrane are scattered connective tissue cells (ct). Masson's trichrome. (C) Beneath the endoderm and Reichert's membrane are spongiotrophoblast cells (sp tr), with a vacuolated appearance, marginal syncytium (ma tr) and a portion of the labyrinth (lab). Haematoxylin and eosin. (D) The centre of the placental disk is covered by connective tissue. Beneath this are marginal trophoblast and labyrinth. Haematoxylin and eosin. Scale bars: 500 μm (A); 10 μm (B); 100 μm (C-D).