Epithelial cell rests of Malassez
Encyclopedia
Periodontal ligament
The periodontal fiber or periodontal ligament, commonly abbreviated as the PDL, is a group of specialized connective tissue fibers that essentially attach a tooth to the alveolar bone within which it sits...
cells around a tooth. They are discrete clusters of residual cells from Hertwig's epithelial root sheath
Hertwig's epithelial root sheath
The Hertwig's epithelial root sheath is a proliferation of epithelial cells located at the cervical loop of the enamel organ in a developing tooth. Hertwig's epithelial root sheath initiates the formation of dentin in the root of a tooth by causing the differentiation of odontoblasts from the...
(HERS) that didn't completely disappear. It is considered that these cell rests proliferate to form epithelial lining of various odontogenic cyst
Odontogenic cyst
Odontogenic cyst is a closed sac, having a distinct membrane derived from rests of odontogenic epithelium. It may contain air, fluids, or semi-solid material. Intra-bony cysts are most common in the jaws, because the mandible and maxilla are the only bones with epithelial components. That...
s such as radicular cyst under the influence of various stimuli. They are named after Louis-Charles Malassez
Louis-Charles Malassez
Louis-Charles Malassez was a French anatomist and histologist born in Nevers, department of Nièvre.He studied medicine in Paris, where he worked as an interne from 1867...
(1842–1909) who described them. Some rests become calcified in the periodontal ligament (cementicles)