The thin, soft, smooth alveolar mucosa is highly keratinized. The thicker, stippled attached gingiva is keratinized, contains rete pegs, and is covered with stratified squamous epithelium.
A) Both statements are true.
B) The first statement is true, the second is false.
C) The first statement is false, the second is true.
D) Both statements are false.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The alveolar mucosa, which joins the attached gingiva at the mucogingival junction, is thin, soft, and smooth as correctly stated in the first statement. However, the alveolar mucosa is not keratinized. By contrast, the attached gingiva is highly keratinized. Its stippled, or dimpled, effect is caused by rete peg formations. These are irregular bindings of epithelium to the bone by collagen fibers.

The Thin, Soft, Smooth Alveolar Mucosa Is Highly Keratinized