Allantois

Allantois (plural allantoides or allantoises) is a part of a developing animal conceptus (which consists of all embryonic and extra-embryonic tissues). It helps the embryo exchange gases and handle liquid waste.

The allantois, along with the amnion and chorion (other embryonic membranes), identify humans, and other mammals, as amniotes. Other amniotes include reptiles, dinosaurs, and birds. Of the vertebrates, only Ichthyopsidas (fish and amphibians) lack this structure.

Function

This sac-like structure is primarily involved in nutrition and excretion, and is webbed with blood vessels.

The function of the allantois is to collect liquid waste from the embryo, as well as to exchange gases used by the embryo.

In reptiles, birds, and monotremes

The structure first evolved in reptiles and birds as a reservoir for nitrogenous waste, but also as a means for oxygenation of the embryo.

Oxygen is absorbed by the allantois through the egg shell. The allantois functions similarly in monotremes, which are egg-laying mammals.

In most marsupials

In most marsupials, the allantois is avascular, having no blood vessels, but still serves the purpose of storing nitrogenous (NH₃) waste.

Also, most marsupial allantoises do not fuse with the chorion. An exception is the allantois of the bandicoot, which has a vasculature, and fuses with the chorion.

In placental mammals (Eutheria)

In placental mammals, the allantois is part of and forms an axis for the development of the umbilical cord.

• The mouse allantois consists of mesodermal tissue, which undergoes vasculogenesis to form the mature umbilical artery and vein.^[1]

• The human allantois is an endodermal evagination of the developing hindgut which becomes surrounded by the mesodermal connecting stalk. The connecting stalk forms the umbilical vasculature. The fetal bladder is connected to the allantois via the urachus, which removes nitrogenous waste from the fetal bladder.^[2] The allantois is vestigial and may regress, yet the homologous blood vessels persist as the umbilical arteries and veins connecting the embryo with the placenta.^[3]

Pathology

A patent allantois can result in urachal cyst.

Etymology

The word comes from the Greek word for sausage, which the allantois resembles.

Additional images

References

1. ^ Downs, K.M. 1998. "The Murine Allantois". Current Topics in Developmental Biology vol. 39, pp 1-33.
2. ^ First AID for the USMLE Step 1 2008
3. ^ http://www.answers.com/topic/allantois

External links

• Diagram at University of Texas - Arlington