recordplayer

Why study histology and embryology?

I built that record player stand. I had to make some specific measurements to make sure there was enough space for records. I built it out of wooden dowells mostly, and used some floor tiles to create a smooth surface. Why those two? Actually, I re-used those materials because I had some left over from two other projects, and I was too lazy to drive to the hardware store. This is exactly why you should study embyrology. Some things will make sense in this book, like the instructions which guide even-spacing between teeth. But some things won't make sense initially, such as why is enamel made by epithelial cells, when it looks like bone tissue? Why can a piece of pig heart be used to surgically repair gingival tissue? What is the philtrum for? These are questions that can be answered by studying embryology, and not by looking at what things look like in adults. Imagine not knowing about seeds and trying to explain how plants are growing in your rain gutters.

Then why study histology? Well, embyros are really tiny, so you need a microscope to see what is going on. But more importantly, things happen in the oral cavity you can't see, but you should understand what is going on. For instance, with a basic understanding of histology you will understand why a pocket depth over 3mm is usually considered unhealthy. You can conceptualize what makes the linea alba appear white in some patients. You can explain what causes perikymata. You are on your own, however, on how to pronounce perikymata.

Hi, I'm the author and I am not a dental hygienist. I probably should have started with that, as it is really important. Am I qualified to write this book? I received a Ph.D. in Physiology and Pharmacology, studying the chemicals that guide embryonic development of the head. These same chemicals are re-used in the formation of the teeth and palate. Because an embyronic head is really small, I had to become an expert in histology, too. So, yes, I hopefully know more about histology and embryology than anyone you will meet professionally. But I obviously needed a collaborator, I am grateful XYZ agreed to help.

I mostly teach Anatomy and Physiology, but I also teach this class for the Dental Hygiene department. I've wanted to use an Open Educational Resources (otherwise known as a Free Textbook!) in my class, but none exist at this time. I also felt that many of the textbooks for this course go into more detail than dental hygienists need, but skimp on the concepts. I dared to dream of a histology book with as little histology as possible-- and definitely no electron microscopy! Technology should make life easier, right? Why bother re-learning how to do things microscopists have been doing for hundreds of years? I sensed an opportunity: write an eBook. I will hopefully make you life easier by illustrating nearly all of the histology. You wont be using microscopes in your clinic, and there should be no histology pictures on your license exam (disclaimer: I haven't taken one, I just read the study guides for them). With an eBook came the added opportunity of using animated images. I was hoping that you, the reader, would be able to interact with the images, but the epub format just isn't there yet or maybe I just don't know what sort of javascript is allowed.

animated image

Conventions used in this eBook

Frequently, I create definitions, which look like that. You can jump back to definitions later in the book if you need to. Then, with the back arrow on your tablet or eReader, you can return to your original place once you have refreshed your memory. Sometimes, you can jump forwards, too. To do so, just click on these links in the book. I know, not much happened there. Try jumping ahead to junctional epithelium if you are curious, although I hope you have a back arrow. Please jump around this eBook. Histology makes so much more sense once you have learned embryology, and embryology makes so much more sense once you have learned histology. There is no perfect linear sequence to this material.

Other links in the book will take you to an external website, usually wikipedia. These links should be in a monospace font, such as this external link, although I don't have absolute control over how they appear. External links are there for further reading if you are interested, but are not required reading to understand the material I present.

I also like to over-use hyphens, which isn't common, but not incorrect. I think it's easier to read Dentino-enamel than Dentinoenamel. I also sometimes insert random thoughts into greyed-out sections like this: feel free to skip this material. If you do not see the grey words where I say you can skip this material, it's OK, you can skip that material-- it is not up to me how your eReader desiplays a note, it might be down at the bottom of the page.

If the image connected to the purple "conventions used in this eBook" header is not changing a little every second, your eReader does not support animated .gif files, and that is really going to stink for you (that's also why I don't make this book available as a .pdf file). I recommend downloading an alternate eReader app if you can, or pointing your web-browser to: insert website here when I get one.

The basic format of each chapter is as follows:
Philosophy Where I try to provide a road-map for what I will be covering, and why I am covering it.
Physiology Where I cover histology and embryology.
Clinical significance Where I cover why the histology or embryology is relevant to your practice.

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By http://rsb.info.nih.gov/ij/images/, Public Domain CC0

Other images

Images that I have not created have their sources listed below. This is to keep in line with the Creative Commons rules for using other people's work the way they have asked. This may be of use to teachers, but students can safely ignore this information.