Periodontal ligament with epithelial rests of Malassez - longitudinal section of root of tooth; human, adult

Stain: Hematoxylin and eosin. From left to right: connective tissue of periodontal ligament with epithelial rests of Malassez as the persistent remnants of the epithelium of Hertwig's epithelial root sheath. The three islets close to the cemental zone are slightly darker stained (note cluster of nuclei); these structures may produce commonly occurring dental cysts. Flattened cementoblasts followed by a thin seam of pink cementoid. Darker stained acellular cementum with densely horizontally-oriented Sharpey's fibers. There are no cementocytes. Dentinocemental junction. Dentin.