Syncytiotrophoblast

Author: Christina Loukopoulou, MSc • Reviewer: Dimitrios Mytilinaios, MD, PhD
Last reviewed: March 14, 2024
Reading time: 1 minute

Syncytiotrophoblasts are a continuous specialized layer of multinucleated epithelial cells which cover the entire surface of villous trees and chorionic villi (intervillous space of placenta).

They are formed by the fusion of trophoblastic cells (syncytium) and play an important role in the growth of the fetus throughout gestation.

Syncytiotrophoblasts function as a transporting epithelium in the placenta.

The apical surface of this specialized type of epithelium is perfused by maternal blood, whereas the basal membrane is in intimate contact with distinct fetal capillary networks. This allows the having the transplacental uptake and transfer of nutrients essential for fetus growth.

Terminology	English: Syncytiotrophoblast
Definition	Syncytiotrphoblasts are a specialized type of epithelial cells lining the intervillous space of the placenta.

Learn more about the placenta and its histological structure in the following study unit:

Sources

All content published on Kenhub is reviewed by medical and anatomy experts. The information we provide is grounded on academic literature and peer-reviewed research. Kenhub does not provide medical advice. You can learn more about our content creation and review standards by reading our content quality guidelines.

Kidima, W.B. (2015). Syncytiotrophoblast functions and fetal growth restriction during placental malaria: updates and implication for future interventions. Biomed Res Int. 2015:451735.

Moore, K. L., Dalley, A. F. and Agur, A. (2017). Clinically oriented anatomy (8th ed.). Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.

Ross, M. H. Pawlina, W. (2011). Histology : a text and atlas : with correlated cell and molecular biology (6th ed.). Wolters Kluwer/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Health.

Standring, S. (2016). Gray's Anatomy (41st ed.). Edinburgh: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone.

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