Abstract
Though the enamel tuft, compared freqently with the enamel lamella, is recognized as hypo-calcified area or area which is rich in organic materials its fine structure has not been elucidated. The ground transverse surfaces of human enamel were etched with 0.5% chromium sulfate or 2% EDTA. After critical point drying with CO2 they were studied under the scanning electron microscope.
The enamel tuft has two morphological components. They are the base or stalk of an organic membranous plate and the body which contains the enamel rods. The membranous plate arises from the furrow on the dentinal surface, which is considered to connect the terminal dentinal tubles. The plate penetrates into the enamel rods near the dentino-enamel junction and thereafter weaves its way through the enamel rods. At the region 40-60 μm from the dentino-enamel junction, the plate disperes as it surrounds the enamel rods. The body of the enamel tuft is surrounded by the sheath-like fragments of the plate and the heads and tails of the enamel rods containg relatively a great deal of organic materials. On the other hand, it seems that the enamel lamella, wherever it is, shows an organic membranous structure in the enamel.
