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Mucosa of the Hard Palate
The mucosa covering the hard palate exhibits a distinct keratinized layer - the stratum corneum (A). In addition, capillaries (B) loop up into the connective tissue papillae (C).
A characteristic feature of keratinized regions in the oral cavity is the presence of relatively high connective tissue papillae projecting into the overlying epithelium. High connective tissue papillae are associated with keratinized epithelium. This form of keratinization in the oral cavity is referred to as orthokeratinized stratified squamous epithelium.
Legend
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A - stratum corneum |
D - rete peg |
