[Changes at different ages in the epithelium of the human oral mucosa of the hard palate and cheek (author's transl)].

This paper describes the results of observation by optical microscopy of the changes in structure of the epithelium of the human oral mucous membrane between birth and old age. The intraepithelial regulatory mechanism of the oral mucous membrane can be disturbed by exogenous and endogenous factors, as a result of which it is possible for the mucosa to lose part of its resistance to external influences. Sex hormones are considered to play an important role in this connection. In the intrauterine state, the epithelium has no stratum corneum. However, a stratum corneum can be seen to develop, in the form of a parakeratosis, already shortly after birth. During puberty, there is observed the capacity to develop, on the palate and gingiva, a protective layer of anuclear horny lumps. At the beginning of the climacteric, the palatal epithelium can be seen to undergo changes in the direction of the prepuberal condition or intermediate stages. The buccal epithelium is invariably free from keratinization and does not usually show such pronounced changes with aging.