Fetal serum markers, such as alpha fetoprotein (AFP), must traverse one of two very different pathways to reach maternal serum, either from fetus to amnion fluid, membranes and decidua or from fetal to maternal circulation through the placental villi. Alpha fetoprotein usually enters the amnion fluid through body wall defects uncovered by skin or through urine. Placental AFP leakage may be from...

The amniotic membrane is a tissue of fetal origin and is composed of three major layers: a single epithelial layer, a thick basement membrane, and an avascular mesenchyme [Fernandes et al., 2005]. There are no nerves, muscles or lymphatics in the amnion. The amniotic membrane is derived from the inner cell mass in the blastocyst and is adjacent to the trophoblast cells and lines the amniotic ca...

The extraembryonic membranes [5] that surround and originate from the embryos of vertebrates such as birds [6], reptiles, and mammals are crucial to their development. They are integral to increasing the surface area of the uterus [7], forming the chorion [8] (which in turn produces the placenta [9]) and the amnion [10], respectively. The amnion [10] will ultimately surround the embryo in a flu...

the human placenta has long been the subject of scientific interest due to the important roles which it performs during pregnancy in sustaining the fetus and maintaining fetomaternal tolerance. more recently, however, researchers have begun to investigate the possibility that the placenta’s utility may extend beyond fetal development to act as a source of cells with clinically relevant properti...

dHACM: dehydrated human amnion/chorion membrane INTRODUCTION Mohs surgery and repair of lower eyelid surgical defects present unique reconstruction challenges because of risk for ectropion. There are several options to avoid this adverse outcome, but when a patient declines surgical repair, there are no alternatives aside from second-intention healing with or without adjunctive therapy. One pro...

To examine the rationale and applications of amniotic tissue augmentation in urological surgery. Published literature in English-language was reviewed for basic science and clinical use of amniotic or amnion-chorionic tissue in genitourinary tissues. Basic science and animal studies support the likely benefit of clinical applications of amnion-derived tissues in a variety of urologic interventi...