Cord lining


Cord lining, cord tissue, or umbilical cord lining membrane, is the outermost layer of the umbilical cord. As the umbilical cord itself is an extension of the placenta, the umbilical cord lining membrane is an extension of the amniotic membrane covering the placenta. The umbilical cord lining membrane comprises two layers: the amniotic layer and the sub-amniotic layer. The umbilical cord lining membrane is a rich source of two strains of stem cells : epithelial stem cells and mesenchymal stem cells . Discovered by Singapore-based CellResearch Corporation in 2004, this is the best known source for harvesting human stem cells.

Cross-section of the umbilical cord