Enamel Flashcards
what is the hardest tissue in the body?
Enamel
Chemical composition of enamel?
96% Inorganic Salts- Calcium Hydroxyapatite
4% Organic Matrix & Water
3 functions of enamel?
Insensitive
protects underlying tissue of tooth
Prevents wear
Within a short time, calcium salts are added to enamel until it reaches it’s full density- this is called
enamel maturation
which cells are responsible for laying down enamel?
Ameloblasts
At the formative end of the ameloblast is long narrow process, extending towards dentine called
The tomes process
Prisms what are they?
enamel composed of prisms
Appear as dark bands - through light microscope, more marked known as
- Brown Striae of Retzius what are these called?
incremental lines
enamel tufts what do they resemble under magnification?
Resemble tufts of grass under low magnification
The ADJ is scalloped not smooth
This takes place during formation of enamel and dentine what is this called?
enamel spindles
what are Hunter Schreger Bands
Alternating light and dark bands
Caused by reflection of light passing along prisms
the protein found in enamel is similar to which other protein of the body?
keratin
in some areas the enamel prisms are irregularly arranged these areas are termed what enamel?
gnarled enamel
what is the name when the lines which result from the alternate active and resting phases of enamel formation?
incremental lines
what is the name of the line which corresponds to the disturbance of enamel formation at birth?
the neonatal line
