Late cap stage of tooth development - human, embryo; low magnification

Stain: Azan. From top to bottom: Stratified ectoderm with a distinct basal layer (red line) of cuboid cells; Dental lamina giving rise to the cap stage (center) and to the primordium of permanent tooth (right); Odontogenic organ or enamel organ (future deciduous tooth surrounded by fibrous tooth follicle); Outer dental epithelium encloses the stellate reticulum consisting of a network of ectoderm-derived cells; Inner dental epithelium is seen as a dark red zone of future ameloblasts covered by a few cell layers of the stratum intermedium; Future odontoblasts are localized just below the translucent zone close to the ameloblasts; Dental papilla extends outside the cervical loop; it consists of a compact network of fibroblast-like cells (so-called pulpal cells); Blood vessels of the papilla and tooth follicle are present; At the bottom alveolar bone formation (dark blue).