Gomphosis
Encyclopedia
Gomphosis is a joint that binds the teeth
to bony sockets (dental alveoli
) in the maxillary bone
and mandible. The fibrous connection between a tooth and its socket is a periodontal ligament
. Specifically, the connection is made between the maxillary or mandible to the cementum of the tooth.
The motion of a gomphosis is very minimal, though considerable movement can be achieved over time—the basis of using braces to realign teeth. The joint can be considered a synarthrosis
or an amphiarthrosis.
The gomphosis is the only joint-type in which a bone does not join another bone, as teeth are not technically bone. In modern, more anatomical, joint classification, the gomphosis is simply considered a fibrous joint because the tissue linking the structures is ligamentous.
A gomphosis is a specialized fibrous joint in which a conical process or peg of one bone fits into a hole or socket in another bone.
(gomphos is a Greek word meaning bolt). Small quantity of fibrous tissue holds the bones together.
No movement is possible at such peg-and-socket joints.
Tooth
Teeth are small, calcified, whitish structures found in the jaws of many vertebrates that are used to break down food. Some animals, particularly carnivores, also use teeth for hunting or for defensive purposes. The roots of teeth are embedded in the Mandible bone or the Maxillary bone and are...
to bony sockets (dental alveoli
Dental alveolus
Dental alveolus are sockets in the jaws in which the roots of teeth are held in the alveolar process of maxilla with the periodontal ligament. The lay term for dental alveoli is tooth sockets...
) in the maxillary bone
Maxilla
The maxilla is a fusion of two bones along the palatal fissure that form the upper jaw. This is similar to the mandible , which is also a fusion of two halves at the mental symphysis. Sometimes The maxilla (plural: maxillae) is a fusion of two bones along the palatal fissure that form the upper...
and mandible. The fibrous connection between a tooth and its socket is a periodontal ligament
Periodontal ligament
The periodontal fiber or periodontal ligament, commonly abbreviated as the PDL, is a group of specialized connective tissue fibers that essentially attach a tooth to the alveolar bone within which it sits...
. Specifically, the connection is made between the maxillary or mandible to the cementum of the tooth.
The motion of a gomphosis is very minimal, though considerable movement can be achieved over time—the basis of using braces to realign teeth. The joint can be considered a synarthrosis
Synarthrosis
A synarthrosis is a type of joint which permits very little or no movement under normal conditions. Most synarthrosis joints are fibrous.Suture joints and Gomphosis joint are synarthroses.-Types:...
or an amphiarthrosis.
The gomphosis is the only joint-type in which a bone does not join another bone, as teeth are not technically bone. In modern, more anatomical, joint classification, the gomphosis is simply considered a fibrous joint because the tissue linking the structures is ligamentous.
A gomphosis is a specialized fibrous joint in which a conical process or peg of one bone fits into a hole or socket in another bone.
(gomphos is a Greek word meaning bolt). Small quantity of fibrous tissue holds the bones together.
No movement is possible at such peg-and-socket joints.