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Questions and Answers
What is the primary function of the oral epithelium?
What is the primary function of the oral epithelium?
What characterizes the sulcular epithelium?
What characterizes the sulcular epithelium?
Which of the following structures connects the junctional epithelium to the tooth surface?
Which of the following structures connects the junctional epithelium to the tooth surface?
What distinguishes the junctional epithelium from the oral epithelium?
What distinguishes the junctional epithelium from the oral epithelium?
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What is the primary component of the gingival connective tissue?
What is the primary component of the gingival connective tissue?
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What type of epithelial layers does the oral epithelium have?
What type of epithelial layers does the oral epithelium have?
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What occurs at the interface of the sulcular epithelium and connective tissue in healthy conditions?
What occurs at the interface of the sulcular epithelium and connective tissue in healthy conditions?
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What is one function of the junctional epithelium?
What is one function of the junctional epithelium?
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What characterizes the basal cell layer of the oral epithelium?
What characterizes the basal cell layer of the oral epithelium?
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Which of the following is NOT a function of gingival connective tissue?
Which of the following is NOT a function of gingival connective tissue?
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Study Notes
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.
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Description
Test your knowledge on the three anatomic areas of gingival epithelium: Junctional, Sulcular, and Oral. This quiz covers the structure, function, and characteristics of each epithelium type. Perfect for dental students and professionals alike.
