What is enamel?

Prepare for your Anatomy and Physiology II Exam with our comprehensive exam resources. Utilize flashcards, multiple choice questions with hints, and detailed explanations. Boost your readiness for success!

Multiple Choice

What is enamel?

Enamel is the outermost layer of the tooth crown, and it is made up of crystalline calcium phosphate, mainly hydroxyapatite. This high mineral content makes enamel the hardest substance the body produces, giving teeth exceptional resistance to wear and decay. It sits atop the dentin, formed during development by ameloblasts, and is avascular and acellular, meaning it doesn’t remodel like bone or dentin. It is not dentin, not cartilage, and it doesn’t form the pulp—those are different tissues inside the tooth.

Enamel is the outermost layer of the tooth crown, and it is made up of crystalline calcium phosphate, mainly hydroxyapatite. This high mineral content makes enamel the hardest substance the body produces, giving teeth exceptional resistance to wear and decay. It sits atop the dentin, formed during development by ameloblasts, and is avascular and acellular, meaning it doesn’t remodel like bone or dentin. It is not dentin, not cartilage, and it doesn’t form the pulp—those are different tissues inside the tooth.

More practice questions