Periodontal Anatomy Flashcards
7 cards from real ABP practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Periodontal Anatomy flashcards as text
The interradicular septum of a mandibular molar consists primarily of which type of bone?
Answer: Cancellous (spongy) bone surrounded by cortical bone
The interradicular septum consists of cancellous bone enclosed within cortical plates; the trabeculae support the roots and transmit occlusal forces.
Cementicles found within the periodontal ligament are:
Answer: Mineralized nodules of uncertain etiology, occasionally fusing with root cementum
Cementicles are calcified bodies within the PDL whose origin is debated; they may form around epithelial cell rests or degenerated PDL fibers and can occasionally fuse to the root surface.
The epithelial cell rests of Malassez (ERM) are remnants of which embryonic structure?
Answer: Hertwig's epithelial root sheath (HERS)
ERM are remnants of Hertwig's epithelial root sheath that remain within the PDL after root formation and may play a role in cementum repair or cyst formation.
The col is an anatomic depression in the interdental gingiva that forms because:
Answer: The interdental gingiva conforms to the contact area of adjacent teeth, creating a concave saddle
The col is a valley-shaped depression beneath the contact point where the buccal and lingual papillae meet; it is lined by thin, non-keratinized epithelium and is highly susceptible to inflammation.
Acellular extrinsic fiber cementum (AEFC) is found predominantly in which region of the root?
Answer: Cervical and middle thirds
AEFC is the primary cementum type in the cervical and middle thirds of the root, providing the main site of principal fiber attachment and formed before tooth eruption.
During tooth eruption, the reduced enamel epithelium (REE) fuses with the oral epithelium to form the:
Answer: Initial junctional epithelium
As the tooth erupts, the REE merges with the oral epithelium and transforms into the initial junctional epithelium that attaches to the enamel surface.
In the periodontium, fenestrations and dehiscences of the alveolar bone are most commonly found on which surface?
Answer: Buccal surface of all teeth, especially anteriors and premolars
Fenestrations (window defects with intact marginal bone) and dehiscences (apical extension of marginal bone loss) occur most frequently on the buccal surface, particularly in the anterior and premolar regions.