Inner cell mass

Overview

In early embryogenesis of most eutherian mammals, the inner cell mass (abbreviated ICM and also known as the embryoblast or pluriblast (the latter term being applicable to all mammals)) is the mass of cells inside the primordial embryo that will eventually give rise to the definitive structures of the fetus. This structure forms in the earliest steps of development, before implantation into the endometrium of the uterus has occurred. The ICM lies within the blastocoele (more correctly termed "blastocyst cavity", as it is not strictly homologous to the blastocoele of anamniote vertebrates) and is entirely surrounded by the single layer of cells called trophoblast.

Further development

The ICM differentiates into two types of cells, epiblast and hypoblast.

Only the cells of the epiblast give rise to cells inside the embryo, while hypoblast cells form only extraembryonic tissue (extraembryonic endoderm). All three germ layers of the definitive embryo, as well as extraembryonic mesoderm, arise from the epiblast.

Stem cells

It is the source of early stem cells.

It can form all tissues except trophoblast.

Additional images

• 

  Blastodermic vesicle of Vespertilio murinus.

• 

  Section through embryonic disk of Vespertilio murinus.

External links

• http://isc.temple.edu/marino/embryology/lecture1-3.htm
• http://isc.temple.edu/marino/embryology/EMBI97/img010.GIF