Histology of Gingiva Quiz (ODS Learning Outcomes)

Anatomic Areas of Gingival Epithelium

• Three anatomic areas of gingival epithelium: Junctional, Sulcular, and Oral.

Oral Epithelium

• Structure: Stratified squamous epithelium, with distinct layers: basal, prickle, granular, and keratinized cell layers.
• Function: Covers the visible free and attached gingiva, reaching to the mucogingival junction. Forms a boundary with underlying connective tissue, in a wavy pattern.

Sulcular Epithelium

• Structure: Thin, non-keratinized epithelium, positioned directly facing the tooth surface, without contacting it. Lacks rete pegs (finger-like projections).
• Function: Allows fluid passage from gingival connective tissue to the sulcus (gingival crevicular fluid, GCF). In health, the epithelium joins the connective tissue with a smooth, non-wavy interface.

Junctional Epithelium

• Structure: Stratified squamous, non-keratinized epithelium; coronal part is thicker (15-30 cells), while apical is thinner (4-5 cells). Cells are tightly packed, connected by desmosomes. Internal and external basal lamina anchor the junctional epithelium to the tooth and connective tissue, respectively. Attached to the tooth by hemidesmosomes.
• Function: Joins the gingiva to the tooth surface, forming a barrier and contributing to host defense.

Gingival Connective Tissue Function

• Function: Provides integrity and strength to gingival tissues with a dense network. Enables the normal function of connective tissue cells through water, nutrition, and oxygen transport within the matrix. Also, plays a role in the host response (immune response) system.