ENAMEL COLUMN Meaning and
Definition
-
An enamel column is a prominent anatomical structure found in the human tooth. Located within the tooth's crown, the enamel column is a vertical formation of densely packed, highly mineralized enamel rods. These rods are tightly bound together and contribute to the overall strength and hardness of the tooth.
Enamel, the outermost and hardest layer of the tooth, protects the underlying dentin and pulp from external stimuli and bacterial invasion. The enamel column plays an essential role in supporting and maintaining the integrity of this protective layer. It consists of thousands of prismatic enamel rods arranged in a perpendicular fashion to the surface of the tooth.
The enamel column starts at the enamel-dentin junction and extends towards the tooth surface, creating a continuous, vertical structure. The arrangement of these rods varies slightly from tooth to tooth, but they are generally oriented parallel to each other within a given enamel column.
Due to its compact structure and shielding properties, the enamel column serves as a robust defensive layer against mechanical stress and excessive wear. It provides the tooth with resistance to abrasion and helps maintain the overall shape and functionality of the tooth.
Understanding the structure and function of the enamel column is crucial in dental sciences, as it ensures the comprehension of tooth development, composition, and pathologies related to enamel. Its durability and protective nature make it an invaluable component of a healthy tooth.
-
One of a number of minute, parallel, hexagonal rods, running from the dentine to the surface of the enamel.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for ENAMEL COLUMN
- wnamel column
- snamel column
- dnamel column
- rnamel column
- 4namel column
- 3namel column
- ebamel column
- emamel column
- ejamel column
- ehamel column
- enzmel column
- ensmel column
- enwmel column
- enqmel column
- enanel column
- enakel column
- enajel column
- enamwl column
- enamsl column
- enamdl column
Etymology of ENAMEL COLUMN
The word "enamel" comes from the Old French word "esmail" or "enamailler", which originated from the Germanic base *smaltjan, meaning "to smelt". The word "column", on the other hand, is derived from the Latin word "columna", which essentially means "pillar". Therefore, the etymology of the term "enamel column" combines the Old French word for enamel with the Latin word for column to refer to a pillar or cylindrical structure made of enamel.
Infographic
Add the infographic to your website:
