title: Histomorphometric analysis of the palatal mucosa associated with periodontal plastic surgery on cadavers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The palatal mucosa is a major donor site for connective tissue in the field of periodontal plastic surgery, since it satisfies both the esthetic and functional demands of patients. The purpose of this study was to use histomorphometric analysis to measure the thicknesses of the palatal mucosa and the lamina propria including the epithelium on cadavers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-four hemimaxillae of cadavers were examined (13 male and 4 female, mean age 57.2 years). Each maxilla was processed for histological sectioning and subsequently for histomorphometric analysis. The thicknesses of the palatal mucosa and the lamina propria including the epithelium were measured at three points starting from the alveolar crest, at intervals of 4 mm, with the aid of Adobe Photoshop.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The thickness of the palatal mucosa at the alveolar crest and at 4 and 8 mm below the alveolar crest were 2.51 ± 0.83 (mean ± SD), 2.92 ± 0.80, and 3.62 ± 0.99 mm, respectively, and thus increasing from the alveolar crest toward the midpalatal suture. Conversely, the thicknesses of the lamina propria including the epithelium at these same positions were 2.06 ± 0.70, 1.54 ± 0.48, and 1.28 ± 0.46 mm, respectively, thus decreasing toward the midpalatal suture.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present results indicate that clinicians need to be particularly careful when harvesting palatal mucosa that is destined to be used as autogenous donor material for connective tissue in periodontal plastic surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Orofacial Development, School of Dentistry, Chosun University, 375 Seosuk-dong, Dong-gu, Gwangju 501-759, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sun-Kyoung
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Baek-Hee
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Myoung-Hwa
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kwang-Hee
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Do Kyung
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Heung-Joong
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002102:Cadaver; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000637:transplantation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008437:Maxilla / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000473:pathology* / Q000637:transplantation*; D019647:Oral Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D010159:Palate / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D010517:Periodontics / Q000379:methods; D010519:Periodontium / Q000601:surgery*; D013518:Surgery, Plastic / Q000379:methods*; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting