362 MICROSCOPIC ANATOMY OF THE TEETH 



Hake. The elasticity is, however, very complete, and the 

 tooth instantly returns to its position when the pressure is 

 removed. 



Pike. In the Pike (Esox lucius) the marginal teeth are anchy- 



losed and the palatal teeth are hinged, but the hinging is 

 obtained in a different manner. As pointed out by Tomes, 

 the osteodentine pulp is traversed by elastic bands or 

 trabeculae, which remain uncalcified, and are firmly attached 

 to the dentine at the margin of its dense peripheral portion 



r h 



FIG. 240. Tooth of Haddock (Gadus ceglefinus) showing 

 modified hinging at h. 



9 



and to the bone of attachment beneath, on which the tooth 

 rests. 



The strong fibrous bands attaching the tooth to the bone 

 on its inner side are not elastic, and the elasticity resides 

 in the trabeculse within the pulp ; when pushed back the 

 tooth recovers its position by the contraction of these 

 bands. 



The arrangement of the teeth of the Pike is eminently 

 adapted for the retention of living prey, the position of the 

 hinged teeth on the palatal bones directing the captured 

 prey in a longitudinal direction, and thus enabling it to 

 pass into the throat as described by Tomes. Every 



