right
The
enamel organ, also known as
dental organ, is a
cellularThe cell is the basic structural and functional unit of all known living organisms. It is the smallest unit of an organism that is classified as living, and is often called the building block of life. The Alberts text discusses how the "cellular building blocks" move to shape developing embryos...
aggregation seen in
histologicHistology is the study of the microscopic anatomy of cells and tissues of plants and animals. It is performed by examining a thin slice of tissue under a light microscope or electron microscope...
sections of a developing
toothTeeth are small, calcified, whitish structures found in the jaws of many vertebrates that are used to tear, scrape, and chew food. Some animals, particularly carnivores, also use teeth for hunting or defense. The roots of teeth are covered by gums...
. It lies above a condensation of ectomesenchymal cells called the
dental papillaThe dental papilla is a condensation of ectomesenchymal cells called odontoblasts, seen in histologic sections of a developing tooth. It lies below a cellular aggregation known as the enamel organ. The dental papilla appears after 8-10 weeks intra uteral life...
. Historically, enamel organ has been the term to describe this structure, but it was attempted unsuccessfully in recent years to change the name to dental organ in order to better represent its multiple functions apart from
enamelTooth enamel is the hardest and most highly mineralized substance of the body, and with dentin, cementum, and dental pulp is one of the four major tissues which make up the tooth in vertebrates. Tooth enamel is also found in the dermal denticles of sharks. It is the normally visible dental tissue...
formation.
The enamel organ functions in the formation of enamel, initiation of
dentinDentin is a calcified tissue of the body, and along with enamel, cementum, and pulp is one of the four major components of teeth. Usually, it is covered by enamel on the crown and cementum on the root and surrounds the entire pulp...
formation, establishment of the shape of a tooth's crown, and establishment of the dentogingival junction.
The parts of the enamel organ include the
inner enamel epitheliumThe inner enamel epithelium, also known as the internal enamel epithelium, is a layer of cells located on the rim nearest the dental papilla of the enamel organ in a developing tooth. This layer is first seen during the bell stage....
,
outer enamel epitheliumThe outer enamel epithelium, also known as the external enamel epithelium, is a layer of cuboidal cells located on the periphery of the enamel organ in a developing tooth. This layer is first seen during the bell stage....
, and the
stellate reticulumThe stellate reticulum is a group of cells located in the center of the enamel organ of a developing tooth. These cells are star shaped and synthesize glycosaminoglycans. As glycosamingoglycans are produced, water is drawn in between the cells and stretch them apart...
.
The parts of the enamel organ include the inner enamel epithelium, outer enamel epithelium, stratum intermedium, and stellate reticulum.