ARCHITECTURE AND DENSITY OF CONNECTIVE-TISSUE PAPILLAE OF HUMAN ORAL-MUCOSA

  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 123  (FEB) , 93-109
Abstract
In order to develop a quantitative stereologic account of oral epithelia in health and disease, the papillary body and the epithelium-connective tissue interface of the human oral mucosa was studied at 6 different sites floor of the mouth, lip, cheek, alveolar side of vestibulum, attached gingiva and hard palate). Biopsy and autopsy material comprising 106 specimens from 57 individuals, 11-81 yr of age, was studied. Both the basal surface of the epithelium and the de-epithelialized surface of the connective tissue were examined by light and scanning electron microscopy. Morphometric techniques (point counting procedured and histometry) were employed in order determine: epithelial thickness, height and density of connective tissue papillae and the percentage of basal epithelial surface occupied by these papillae. In the majority of sites, connective tissue plateaux or ridges carrying a variable number of single or grouped papillae were the basic structural unit of the papillary body. Three regions with different characteristics of the epithelium-connective tissue interface could be identified: floor of the mouth; lip and cheek; and gingiva and hard palate. The floor of the mouth showed the lowest connective tissue papillae density, the smallest papillae and connective tissue plateaux separated by narrow grooves. Lip and cheek mucosae revealed an intermediate density, the papillae were frequently bifurcated and angulated. Gingiva and hard palate were characterized by the highest papillary density and by papillae which were cylindrical, slender and erect. The alveolar mucosa exhibited intermediate features between those of the floor of the mouth and those of the cheek mucosa.