Morphology and distribution of organized sensory nerve endings in the mandibular periosteum of the cat

Abstract

The mandibular periostea of the labial-buccal and the lingual side of thecat were stained by the methylene blue immersion method and mounted wholly. The morphology and distribution of the nerve endings were studied with a light microscope.In the mandibular periostem, there were free nerve endings and two kinds of organized sensory nerve endings, bush-like nerve endings and small encapsulated corpuscles. The bush-like nerve endings were various in shape and size and not covered with capsule. The nerve fibers of these endings were 2.5-6.0μ in diameter. The small encapsulated corpuscles were almost oval in shape, 46-114μ in length and had a simple or branched axon. The fiber diameter of these endings were 2.5-7.5μ.Whereas the distribution area of the free nerve endings and the bush-like nerve endings extended throughout the periosteum, the small encapsulated corpuscles were localized in the anterior part of the labial side. The number of the bush-like nerve endings per half mandible was 137-423, and that of the small encapsulated corpuscles 31-79.Results of this experiment showed that, along with the organizing of the nerve ending, its fiber increases in dimeter, its number per idividual decreases and itdistribution localizes so as to receive external stimulation easily.