310 MICROSCOPIC ANATOMY OF THE TEETH 



cover-glass preparations. The gum tissue is firmly bound 

 down to the bone beneath, its firm fibrous tissue being 

 blended with that of the periosteum, with which it is con- 

 tinuous. Numerous large papillae, single or compound, cover 

 its surface, and involved in the gum tissue near its outer 

 margin cell nests or more or less open spaces (epithelial coils) 

 are found, probably the bodies which were considered by 

 Serres to be glands. The structure and probable function 

 of these bodies will be considered in treating of the tooth 

 follicle and its connexions, but there is little doubt they are 

 derived from the epithelial cells of the dental lamina or 

 tooth-band. 



The gum is very poorly supplied with nerves, as its well- 

 known lack of sensibility would indicate, but it has an 

 abundant vascular supply. 



Simple mucous glands are abundantly found in the gum 

 tissue. 



REFERENCES 



1. Black, G. V. Periosteum and Peridental Membrane, chap. x. 



2. Malassez, L. ' Sur 1'existence d'amas epitheliaux autour de la racine 



des dents,' etc., with appendix on the so-called Alveolar Periosteum. 

 Archives de PhysioL, 1885, Ser. 3, vol. v, pp. 129-48. 



