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Reproductive Science - Clinical Embryology images of human preimplantation embryos - Blastocyst
An image of a human preimplantation embryo on Day 5 of development. The cell of the embryos are no longer circular and distinct. At this stage, two cell lines have developed: the inner cell mass (ICM) and the trophectoderm (TE).
In this image, the ICM has formed in the top left hand portion of the blastocyst. The cells will go on to form the fetus.
The cells on the outer portion of the embryo are TE. These cells secrete the hormone human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) and are responsible for implantation.
This blastocyst is still contained within the zona pellucida. As it continues to develop, the TE cells pump in more fluid across the cells to form a blastocoelic cavity, As this expands, the zona thins, and the embryo eventually hatches from the zona. The blastocyst then further expands as it hopefully meets the endometirum for implantation to take place.
Resource details
| Contributed by: | Pathology Portal |
| Authored by: |
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| Licence: | © All rights reserved More information on licences |
| Last updated: | 12 July 2023 |
| First contributed: | 15 April 2023 |
| Audience access level: | Full user |
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