专业术语—口腔生理学术语C3(英文详解)（在线收听）

    Code - the code of nucleotides is written in "words" of three letters using an"alphabet" of four "letters". These four components of the code are adenine, thymine, cytosine, and guanine.

    Collagen - the most common protein found in the body. It has a fibrous structure and makes up the main organic component of bone and dentine, and the fibres of tendons and ligaments.

    Collagenase - an enzyme produced by fibroblasts which breaks down collagen fibres. The fibroblast recycles the component amino acids, and secretes new collagen fibres. This process of remodelling occurs throughout life. Osteoclasts also secrete collagenases in order to remove bone matrix. Several bacteria are able to secrete collagenases and are thus able to break down and penetrate through collagen fibres in the periodontal ligament.

    Colonies - communities of organisms which have taken up residence in a habitat .

    Competency - the ability of a cell to respond to messengers which could cause it to differentiate into a more specialised cell. Some cells, like pericytes remain competent throughout life, whereas others, such as the oral epithelium, are only able to form an tooth bud during the 12th to 16th week of foetal development.

    Composite - a material made from two or more different types of material which contribute different properties. For example bone is a combination of a resilient fibres of collagen in a brittle matrix (hydroxyapatite).

    Compressive strength - ability to withstand a crushing force.

    Condylar process - the vertical extension of the mandible which ends in the condyle head, the moveable part of the temporomandibular joint.

    Connective tissue - one of the four main types of collections of cells (tissues) which consists of cells in a matrix of ground substance and fibres. Some connective tissues support structures like blood vessels and glands. Others are more structural, like bone, tendons and cartilage.

    Contralateral - the opposite side as distinct from ipsilateral. Often used to refer to the teeth, joint or muscles on the opposite side from the chewing side.

    Coronoid process - the vertical extension of the mandible anterior to the condyle to which the temporal muscle attaches.

    Cortical-bone - the outer layer of bone which is dense and made up of lamellae.