GLOSSARY

A gomphosis is an immovable fibrous joint that anchors the root of a tooth in its socket (alveolus) in the upper or lower jaw; it is the only example of a gomphosis in the body.
The word comes from the Greek gomphos, meaning “bolt” or “nail”, because the tooth is set into the bone like a peg.

Structure

The connection is made by the periodontal ligament, made of short collagen fibres that suspend the tooth root in its socket like a hammock. This ligament contains sensory receptors that detect chewing pressure.

Function

The periodontal ligament allows