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    Enamel Knot and Cord

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    SaraMAmin
    The enamel knot and enamel cord are structures that appear during tooth development. The enamel knot is a cluster of cells in the inner enamel epithelium that regulates tooth shape and cusp development. It exists as a primary knot, which signals the proliferation of the dental papilla, and secondary knots in molar teeth, which initiate crown shape development. The enamel cord connects the enamel knot to the outer dental epithelium and may aid the enamel knot, though its exact function is unknown.

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    Enamel Knot and Cord

    Uploaded by

    SaraMAmin
    127 views1 page
    The enamel knot and enamel cord are structures that appear during tooth development. The enamel knot is a cluster of cells in the inner enamel epithelium that regulates tooth shape and cusp development. It exists as a primary knot, which signals the proliferation of the dental papilla, and secondary knots in molar teeth, which initiate crown shape development. The enamel cord connects the enamel knot to the outer dental epithelium and may aid the enamel knot, though its exact function is unknown.

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    Enamel Knot and Cord

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    The enamel knot and enamel cord are structures that appear during tooth development. The enamel knot is a cluster of cells in the inner enamel epithelium that regulates tooth shape and cusp development. It exists as a primary knot, which signals the proliferation of the dental papilla, and secondary knots in molar teeth, which initiate crown shape development. The enamel cord connects the enamel knot to the outer dental epithelium and may aid the enamel knot, though its exact function is unknown.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as doc, pdf, or txt
    127 views1 page

    Enamel Knot and Cord

    Uploaded by

    SaraMAmin
    The enamel knot and enamel cord are structures that appear during tooth development. The enamel knot is a cluster of cells in the inner enamel epithelium that regulates tooth shape and cusp development. It exists as a primary knot, which signals the proliferation of the dental papilla, and secondary knots in molar teeth, which initiate crown shape development. The enamel cord connects the enamel knot to the outer dental epithelium and may aid the enamel knot, though its exact function is unknown.

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    Sara Magdy Amin 08/4319

    Group 6B
    Oral Histology Assignment
    Explain the structure and functions of the enamel knot and the enamel cord.
    Enamel Knot:
    A localized cluster of temporary, non-dividing epithelial cells that appears thickened
    at the center of the inner enamel epithelium of the enamel organ. It slightly deepens into
    the dental papilla beneath, and it is fully shown during the cap-stage of teeth
    development. The enamel knots are said to act as central regulators for providing
    positional information of tooth and cusp development (shape and diversity) since they
    link cell differentiation to morphogenesis. Another view is that they act as a reservoir
    of dividing cells for the growing enamel organ.
    The enamel knot can be divided into a primary enamel knot and a secondary enamel
    knot.
    The Primary Enamel Knot:
    It is formed at the tip of the epithelial tooth bud during the bud-stage but becomes
    fully developed in the cap-stage of tooth development. It forms in both incisors and
    molar tooth germs and later becomes removed by a process known as apoptosis.
    Function:
    It is believed that the Primary Enamel Knot is needed for tooth morphogenesis to take
    place. They are said to act as signaling centers for the proliferation of the dental
    papilla into the cap stage.
    The Secondary Enamel Knot:
    Secondary enamel knots only develop in molar tooth germs and appear in the enamel
    epithelium at the sites of the future cusps. Although the primary and secondary
    enamel knots have a close molecular and functional relationship in molar
    development, they are not actually derived from the same cells.
    Function:
    The appearance of the Secondary Enamel Knot marks the initiation of the actual
    crown shape development. They also express several signaling molecules, and their
    formation precedes the folding and growth of the epithelium.
    Enamel Cord/ Enamel Septum:
    A continuous vertical strand of cells that joins the Enamel Knot to the Outer Dental
    Epithelium. Like the Enamel Knot, it is also a temporary structure.
    Function:

    It is said to aid the Enamel Knot in its action, but as with the Enamel Knot, its precise
    function is not yet known.

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