Wharton's jelly: Definition from Answers.com

Wharton's jelly is a gelatinous substance within the umbilical cord, largely made up of mucopolysaccharides (hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulfate). It also contains some fibroblasts and macrophages. ^[1]

As a mucous tissue it protects and insulates umbilical blood vessels. Wharton's jelly, when exposed to temperature changes, collapses structures within the umbilical cord and thus will provide a physiological clamping of the cord, an average of 5 minutes after birth. In some cases, such as in water birth with the cord immersed, the Wharton's jelly reaction will occur much later.

Stem cells

Cells in Wharton's jelly express several stem cell genes, including telomerase. They can be extracted, cultured, and induced to differentiate into mature cell types such as neurons ^[2]. Wharton's jelly is therefore a potential source of adult stem cells (also see the more common method of storing cord blood) ^[3]

Etymology

It is named for the English physician and anatomist Thomas Wharton (1614-1673) who first described it in his publication Adenographia, or "The Description of the Glands of the Entire Body", first published in 1656.^[4]

External links

^ Wharton's jelly in the Merriam-Webster Medical Dictionary.
^ Mitchell KE, Weiss ML, Mitchell BM, Martin P, Davis D, Morales L, Helwig B, Beerenstrauch M, Abou-Easa K, Hildreth T, Troyer D, Medicetty S. Matrix cells from Wharton's jelly form neurons and glia. Stem Cells. 2003;21(1):50-60.
^ Wharton's Jelly, Hair Follicles New Sources of Adult Stem Cells, Studies Find StemCellNews.com, 13 May 2005.
^ Warton T (1656). Adenographia: sive glandularum totius corporis descriptio. London: Wharton. pp. pg 243–44.

Developmental biology > Human embryogenesis (development of embryo) and development of fetus

First three
weeks

Week 1

Fertilization · Egg activation · Zygote · Cleavage · Morula · Blastula (Blastomere) · Blastocyst · Inner cell mass

Week 2
(Bilaminar)

Hypoblast · Epiblast

Week 3
(Trilaminar)

Extraembryonic/
uterus

Trophoblast (Cytotrophoblast, Syncytiotrophoblast)

Blastocoele · Yolk sack/exocoelomic cavity · Heuser's membrane · Extraembryonic coelom · Vitelline duct

Umbilical cord (Umbilical artery, Umbilical vein, Wharton's jelly) · Allantois

Placenta · Decidua (Decidual cells) · Chorionic villi/Intervillous space · Gestational sac (Amnion/Amniotic sac/Amniotic cavity, Chorion)

Histogenesis

Programmed cell death (Apoptosis) · Stem cells · Germ line development

Organogenesis

Limb development: Limb bud · Apical ectodermal ridge/AER
other structures: Eye development · Cutaneous structure development · Heart development · Development of the urinary and reproductive organs

(Some dates are approximate—see Carnegie stages and a timeline.)

This developmental biology article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)

Donate to Wikimedia

	Who is John C Wharton? Read answer...
	How old is rebekah wharton in 2009? Read answer...
	Where is the Wharton School of Business? Read answer...

	Where is Wharton business college?
	What religion was Edith Wharton?
	What did Edith Wharton write about?

		Medical Dictionary. The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Read more
		Veterinary Dictionary. Saunders Comprehensive Veterinary Dictionary 3rd Edition. Copyright © 2007 by D.C. Blood, V.P. Studdert and C.C. Gay, Elsevier. All rights reserved. Read more
		Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Wharton's jelly". Read more