[The human dental pulp as viewed through a scanning electron microscope (author's transl)].

The human dental pulp was examined using a scanning electron microscope. The odontoblasts are pear-shaped and have a fine-grain surface structure. Tomes' process divides into fine branches before entering the predentin. Very few fibroblasts were found. These had stronger cell processes at the two terminal poles. Adhering to their surfaces were fine fibers. Collagenous and nerve fibers could not be accurately identified in the rich fibrillary network of the pulp. Stronger nerve fasciculi were readily observable through longitudinal sulci. Thinner fibers were seen to spread out in branches from some nerve bundles. The capillaries were observed to be surrounded by a sheath of fine fibrils.