Anatomy & Histology · single question
Which structure anchors the tooth to the alveolar bone while permitting the slight physiologic movement of the tooth in its socket?
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Correct answer: C. Sharpey fibers of the periodontal ligament
- A. ❌ The junctional epithelium forms the soft tissue seal at the base of the sulcus; it is not a load-bearing attachment.
- B. ❌ The CEJ is an anatomic landmark where enamel meets cementum, not an attachment apparatus.
- C. ✅ CORRECT — SHARPEY FIBERS are the terminal ends of the principal periodontal ligament fiber bundles that insert into cementum on one side and alveolar bone on the other. This suspensory arrangement anchors the tooth while allowing the small physiologic mobility that lets the PDL absorb and distribute occlusal loads.
- D. ❌ Enamel spindles are odontoblastic processes trapped in enamel; they have no role in attachment.
Note: ⚑ Read the stem carefully: the PDL as a whole permits movement; the SHARPEY FIBERS are the specific inserting structures.
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