Macrophages - cells derived from monocytes which have the ability to phagocytose foreign particles and dead tissue and to move through tissue, or to remain fixed in one place. There are many macrophag...
Lymphocytes - white cells involved in the immune response. B lymphocytes are so called because they mature in bone while T lymphocytes mature in the thymus. Both cells look alike until they recognise...
Lamella-bone - the microscopic structure of cortical bone gives it the appearance of concentric or parallel plates ( from Latin, lamella, the diminutive of lamina, meaning a plate or leaf). Lamina pro...
Junctional epithelium - the epithelium which seals the base of the gingival sulcus against the tooth. Keratan sulphate - a glycosaminoglycan found in cartilage, with chondroitin sulphate. Keratin - a...
Intermediate filaments - unlike microfilaments and microtubules, they are verystable. Instead of being stacked proteins, as in actin, intermediate filaments are built of interlocking proteins. A dense...
Insulin - an endochrine hormone produced in the spleen which controls the amount of sugar in the blood by a) transporting it into cells and promoting glycolysis b) converting it into glycogen for stor...
Inflammation - is a whole complex of events which occur in sequence, in response to injury. Tissue damaged by bacteria, chemicals, heat, trauma etc, release histamine and bradykinin and serotonin whic...
In Vitro - experiments which are carried out in a laboratory as distinct from in vivo experiments In Vivo -experiments which are carried out in live animals as distinct from in vitro experiments Immun...
Hyaluronic acid - the largest glycosaminoglycan known, it plays an important role of restricting the flow of water in tissues, particularly in synovial fluid where it acts as a lubricant.. Hydrogen bo...
Habitat - a location which has a suitable environment for an organism to live in. Caves are natural habitats for bats, trees for birds; oral surfaces and crevices, for some bacteria. Haemostasis - the...
Glucosamine - a glucose or galactose molecule with an amine group attached. see also glucuronic acid. Glucose - a molecule of great importance to life as it provides a ready source of energy for both...
Gangrene - the death of tissue on a large scale. May be caused by certain bacteria which spread rapidly through tissues, or by an inadequate blood supply. Ganglion - a collection of nerve cells usuall...
Fatty acids - long straight chains of carbon and hydrogen ending with an acid group at one end. Saturated fatty acids have no capacity to absorb more hydrogen atoms. Animal fats are mostly of this typ...
Epidermal growth factor - a cytokine that stimulates epithelial cell proliferation. Epinephrine - a neurotransmitter substance found at all adrenergic synapses (nor epinephrine or epinephrine). It is...
Enamel prisms - rod-like bundles of hydroxyapatie crystals which are orientated at right angles to the tooth surface. Each prism can be traced from the outside of the enamel all the way to the dentine...
