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Related Concept Videos

Tooth Anatomy

Tooth Anatomy

The human tooth enables us to eat a variety of foods, speak clearly, and even aid in shaping our faces. Teeth are composed of various elements that work together. Here's a detailed look at the anatomy of a human tooth.
The Crown, Neck, and Root
The visible part of the tooth is referred to as the crown. It's covered by enamel, the hardest substance in the human body. The crown is uniquely shaped for each type of tooth, allowing for different functions such as cutting, tearing, or grinding food.

Teeth

Teeth

The formation of teeth, also known as odontogenesis, is a complex process that begins in utero, around the sixth week of embryonic development. There are three stages to this process: the bud stage, the cap stage, and the bell stage.
In the bud stage, the tooth germ (an aggregation of cells) starts to form in the developing jawbone. During the cap stage, the tooth germ differentiates into enamel organ, dental papilla, and dental sac, which will later develop into the tooth's enamel, dentin and...

Development of the Oral Microbiota

Development of the Oral Microbiota

The establishment of the oral microbiome begins before birth, challenging the long-held belief that the fetal oral cavity is sterile. The presence of oral microbes such as Streptococcus and Fusobacterium in amniotic fluid suggests that microbial exposure may occur in utero, potentially through translocation from the maternal oral or gastrointestinal tract. This early colonization primes the neonatal immune system and sets the stage for subsequent microbial succession. Maternal health,...

Determination

Determination

During embryogenesis, cells become progressively committed to different fates through a two-step process: specification followed by determination. Specification is demonstrated by removing a segment of an early embryo, “neutrally” culturing the tissue in vitro—for example, in a petri dish with simple medium—and then observing the derivatives. If the cultured region gives rise to cell types that it would normally generate in the embryo, this means that it is specified. In contrast, determination...

Sutures of the Skull

Sutures of the Skull

The human skull is composed of several bones that come together to protect the brain and support the structures of the face. The junctions where these bones meet are called sutures.
Sutures are immobile joints between adjacent bones of the skull. The narrow gap between the bones is filled with dense, fibrous connective tissue that unites the bones. The long sutures located between the skull bones are not straight but instead follow irregular, tightly twisting paths. These twisting lines tightly...

Multipotency and Niche of Bulge Stem Cell

Multipotency and Niche of Bulge Stem Cell

A hair follicle or HF is a small part of the skin that produces the hair shaft. Paul Gerson Unna was the first to observe a bulge in the human hair follicle's outer root sheath (ORS). The bulge is present between the sebaceous gland and the arrector pili muscle and is the niche for hair follicle stem cells (HFSCs). The bulge is also a niche for melanocyte stem cells, and their loss results in graying of hair. The HFSCs express Sox9 and Lhx2, which help them maintain stemness and prevent...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 21, 2026

The Slice Culture Method for Following Development of Tooth Germs In Explant Culture

The Slice Culture Method for Following Development of Tooth Germs In Explant Culture

Published on: November 13, 2013

Fate of HERS during tooth root development.

Xiaofeng Huang¹, Pablo Bringas, Harold C Slavkin

¹Center for Craniofacial Molecular Biology (CCMB), School of Dentistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA.

Developmental Biology

|July 7, 2009

Summary

Hertwig's epithelial root sheath (HERS) cells are crucial for tooth root development, forming a network that guides growth and interacts with surrounding tissues. These cells persist, contributing to cementum formation and becoming the epithelial rest of Malassez.

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Last Updated: Jun 21, 2026

The Slice Culture Method for Following Development of Tooth Germs In Explant Culture

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Published on: November 13, 2013

Isolation of Epithelial Cells from Human Dental Follicle

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Published on: April 13, 2022

Area of Science:

Developmental Biology
Cell Biology
Oral Biology

Background:

Tooth root development is a critical process following crown formation.
The precise fate and function of Hertwig's epithelial root sheath (HERS) during root development have remained largely unknown.
Understanding HERS cell dynamics is key to comprehending tooth morphogenesis.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the morphological fate of HERS cells in vivo.
To analyze the dynamic movement and cellular interactions of HERS during tooth root development.
To elucidate the role of HERS in guiding root formation and tissue differentiation.

Main Methods:

Generation of K14-Cre;R26R transgenic mice for lineage tracing of HERS cells.
In vivo observation and analysis of HERS cell behavior throughout root formation.
Microscopic examination of HERS cell interactions with dentin, cementum, and mesenchymal cells.

Main Results:

HERS cells persist on the root surface throughout development, forming a continuous network.
A portion of HERS cells detach to form the epithelial rest of Malassez.
HERS cells secrete extracellular matrix, participate in cementum development, and may differentiate into cementocytes.
HERS cells interact with cranial neural crest-derived mesenchyme, guiding root development.

Conclusions:

The HERS network is essential for successful tooth root development.
HERS cells play active roles in matrix secretion, cementum formation, and cell-cell communication.
The continuous HERS network and its interactions are vital for guiding root morphogenesis and differentiation.