root canal

canal /ca·nal/ (kah-nal´) a relatively narrow tubular passage or channel.

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adductor canal  a fascial tunnel in the middle third of the medial part of the thigh, containing the femoral vessels and saphenous nerve.

Alcock's canal  pudendal c.

alimentary canal  the musculomembranous digestive tube extending from the mouth to the anus.

anal canal  the terminal portion of the alimentary canal, from the rectum to the anus.

Arnold's canal  a channel in the petrous portion of the temporal bone for passage of the vagus nerve.

atrioventricular canal  the common canal connecting the primordial atrium and ventricle; it sometimes persists as a congenital anomaly.

birth canal  the canal through which the fetus passes in birth.

caroticotympanic canals  tiny passages in the temporal bone connecting the carotid canal and the tympanic cavity, carrying communicating twigs between the internal carotid and tympanic plexuses.

carotid canal  a tunnel in the petrous portion of the temporal bone that transmits the internal carotid artery to the cranial cavity.

cochlear canal  see under duct.

condylar canal , condyloid canal an occasional opening in the condylar fossa for transmission of the transverse sinus.

canal of Cuvier  ductus venosus.

Dorello's canal  an occasional opening in the temporal bone through which the abducens nerve and inferior petrosal sinus enter the cavernous sinus.

facial canal  a canal for the facial nerve in the petrous portion of the temporal bone.

femoral canal  the medial part of the femoral sheath lateral to the base of the lacunar ligament.

Gartner's canal  a closed rudimentary duct, lying parallel to the uterine tube, into which the transverse ducts of the epoöphoron open; it is the remains of the part of the mesonephros that participates in formation of the reproductive organs.

genital canal  any canal for the passage of ova or for copulatory use.

haversian canal  any of the anastomosing channels of the haversian system in compact bone, containing blood and lymph vessels and nerves.

Huguier's canal  a small canal opening into the facial canal just before its termination, transmitting the chorda tympani nerve.

Huschke's canal  a canal formed by the tubercles of the tympanic ring, usually disappearing during childhood.

hyaloid canal  a passage running from in front of the optic disk to the lens of the eye; in the fetus, it transmits the hyaloid artery.

hypoglossal canal  an opening in the occipital bone, transmitting the hypoglossal nerve and a branch of the posterior meningeal artery.

incisive canals  the small canals opening into the incisive fossa of the hard palate, transmitting the nasopalatine nerves.

infraorbital canal  a small canal running obliquely through the floor of the orbit, transmitting the infraorbital vessels and nerve.

inguinal canal  the oblique passage in the lower anterior abdominal wall, through which passes the round ligament of the uterus in the female, and the spermatic cord in the male.

interdental canals  channels in the alveolar process of the mandible between the roots of the central and lateral incisors, for passage of anastomosing blood vessels between the sublingual and inferior dental arteries.

interfacial canals  a labyrinthine system of expanded intercellular spaces between desmosomes.

medullary canal 

1. vertebral c.

2. see under cavity.

nasal canal , nasolacrimal canal a canal formed by the maxilla laterally and the lacrimal bone and inferior nasal concha medially, transmitting the nasolacrimal duct.

neurenteric canal  a temporary communication in the embryo between the posterior part of the neural tube and the archenteron.

canal of Nuck  a pouch of peritoneum extending into the inguinal canal, accompanying the round ligament, in the female; usually obliterated after birth.

nutrient canal  haversian c.

optic canal  one of the paired openings in the sphenoid bone that transmits an optic nerve and its associated ophthalmic artery.

Petit's canal  zonular spaces.

perivascular canal  a lymph space about a blood vessel.

portal canal  a space within the capsule of Glisson and liver substance, containing branches of the portal vein, of the hepatic artery, and of the hepatic duct.

pterygoid canal  a canal in the sphenoid bone transmitting the pterygoid vessels and nerves.

pterygopalatine canal  a passage in the sphenoid and palatine bones for the greater palatine vessels and nerve.

pudendal canal  a tunnel formed by a splitting of the obturator fascia, which encloses the pudendal vessels and nerve.

pyloric canal  the short narrow part of the stomach extending from the gastroduodenal junction to the pyloric antrum.

root canal  that part of the pulp cavity extending from the pulp chamber to the apical foramen.

sacculocochlear canal  the canal connecting the saccule and cochlea.

sacral canal  the continuation of the vertebral canal through the sacrum.

semicircular canals  three long canals (anterior, lateral, and posterior) of the bony labyrinth, important in the sense of equilibrium.

Semicircular canals (canales semicirculares ossei).

spermatic canal  the inguinal canal in the male.

spiral canal of cochlea  cochlear duct.

spiral canal of modiolus  a canal following the course of the bony spiral lamina of the cochlea and containing the spiral ganglion.

tarsal canal  see under sinus.

tympanic canal of cochlea  scala tympani.

uterine canal  the cavity of the uterus.

vertebral canal  the canal formed by the series of vertebral foramina together, enclosing the spinal cord and meninges.

Volkmann's canals  canals communicating with the haversian canals, for passage of blood vessels through bone.

canal of Wirsung  pancreatic duct.

zygomaticotemporal canal  see under foramen.

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root canal

n.

1. The chamber of the dental pulp lying within the root portion of a tooth. Also called pulp canal.

2. A treatment in which diseased tissue from this part of the tooth is removed and the resulting cavity is filled with an inert material.

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Root canal

The space within a tooth that runs from the pulp chamber to the tip of the root.

Mentioned in: Root Canal Treatment

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root canal.

See pulp canal.

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canal [kah-nal´]

a relatively narrow tubular passage or channel.

adductor canal Hunter's canal.

Alcock's canal a tunnel formed by a splitting of the obturator fascia, which encloses the pudendal vessels and nerve.

alimentary canal see alimentary canal.

anal canal the terminal portion of the alimentary canal, from the rectum to the anus.

atrioventricular canal the common canal connecting the primordial atrium and ventricle; it sometimes persists as a congenital anomaly.

birth canal the canal through which the fetus passes in birth.

carotid canal one in the pars petrosa of the temporal bone, transmitting the internal carotid artery to the cranial cavity.

cervical canal the part of the uterine cavity lying within the cervix.

condylar canal an occasional opening in the condylar fossa for transmission of the transverse sinus; called also posterior condyloid foramen.

canal of Corti a space between the outer and inner rods of Corti.

femoral canal the cone-shaped medial part of the femoral sheath lateral to the base of Gimbernat's ligament.

haversian canal any of the anastomosing channels of the haversian system in compact bone, containing blood and lymph vessels, and nerves.

Hunter's canal a fascial tunnel in the middle third of the medial part of the thigh, containing the femoral vessels and saphenous nerve. Called also adductor canal.

hypoglossal canal an opening in the occipital bone, transmitting the hypoglossal nerve and a branch of the posterior meningeal artery; called also anterior condyloid foramen.

infraorbital canal a small canal running obliquely through the floor of the orbit, transmitting the infraorbital vessels and nerve.

inguinal canal the oblique passage in the lower anterior abdominal wall on either side, through which passes the round ligament of the uterus in the female, and the spermatic cord in the male.

medullary canal

1. spinal canal.

2. marrow cavity.

optic canal a passage for the optic nerve and ophthalmic artery at the apex of the orbit; called also optic foramen.

pulp canal root canal.

root canal that part of the pulp cavity extending from the pulp chamber to the apical foramen. Called also pulp canal.

sacral canal the continuation of the spinal canal through the sacrum.

Schlemm's canal venous sinus of sclera.

semicircular c's see semicircular canals.

spinal canal (vertebral canal) the canal formed by the series of vertebral foramina together, enclosing the spinal cord and meninges.

Volkmann's c's canals communicating with the haversian canals, for passage of blood vessels through bone.

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canal,

n the portion of the root that contains the pulp tissue and is surrounded by dentin.

canal, accessory root,

n a lateral branching of the main root canal, usually occurring in the apical third of the root. Also called
lateral canal.

canal, alimentary,

n the entire digestive route, beginning at the oral cavity and ending at the anus, in which food enters, nourishment is extracted, and waste products are expelled.

canal, branching,

n See canal, collateral pulp.

canal, calcified,

n a root canal that has been subjected to calcification, the hardening of decaying of dead soft tissue.

canal, collateral pulp (branching canal),

n a pulp canal branch that emerges from the root at a place other than the apex.

canal, interdental (nutrient canal),

n the nutrient channels that pass upward through the body of the mandible. Present as radiolucent lines on radiographs.

canal, mandibular,

n a channel extending from the mandibular foramen on the medial surface of the ramus of the mandible to the mental foramen. It contains mandibular blood vessels (arteries and veins) and a portion of the mandibular branch of the trigeminal nerve, the incisive nerve, and the inferior alveolar nerve.

canal, nutrient,

n See canal, interdental.

canal, pulp,

n the space in the radicular portion of the tooth occupied by the pulp.

canal, root,

n See canal, pulp.

canal, root, measurements,

n.pl a technique employing the use of radiographs to determine the length of the root canal.

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root,

n 1. the part of a human tooth covered by cementum.
n 2. a nerve root; the part of a nerve adjacent to the center with which it is connected; in spinal and cranial nerves the part of the nerve between the cells of origin or termination and the ganglion.

root amputation,

n See amputation, root.

root angulation,

n the angle formed by the intersection of the tooth root and the long axes of the crown. Where roots are sufficiently angulated, adequate bone formation occurs between the adjacent roots, which is important if the patient is particularly susceptible to periodontal bone loss.

root apex,

n the root tip.

root, apical

n the most inferior part or tip of the root of a tooth.

root axis line (RAL),

n a hypothetical vertical line that could be drawn from the crown of a tooth to the root apex.

root, bifurcated,

n the root structure of a tooth divided into two segments.

root canal,

n 1. the soft, hollow, canal-like tissues of a tooth that adjoin the pulp chamber. The root canals help secure the teeth in the jaw, provide nutrition to the teeth through their blood vessels, and help sense oral cavity activity through their nerves. Infected root canals can be extremely painful.
2. the informal term for the endodontic procedure to remove infected root canal tissue and replace removed tissue with restorative material.

root canal, accessory,

n a nonprimary passage typically located near the root's apex that extends from the cementum to the pulp. It may be located at a higher point on the tooth and connect to a periodontal pocket.

root canal instrument stop,

n a device placed on a root canal instrument to mark the measured depth of instrument penetration.

root, clinical,

n the portion of the tooth that is below the attached periodontal tissues and not exposed to the oral cavity.

root concavity,

n a longitudinal depression located on the surface of a root.

root curettage,

n See curettage, root.

root, dwarfed,

n an abnormally short root with a normal-sized crown.

root, fused,

n a tooth root that is joined with another.

root, intraalveolar

n the portion of a tooth root enclosed in and supported by alveolar bone.

root, mesiobuccal

n the root of a tooth that is found near the mesial portion of the tooth and the buccal side of the alveolar ridge.

root morphology

n the study of the topographic surfaces of the roots that allow for successful periodontal treatment.

root planing,

n a procedure that smooths the surface of a root by removing abnormal toxic cementum or dentin that is rough, contaminated, or permeated with calculus.

Root planing.

root resection,

n See apicoectomy.

root resorption of teeth,

n the destruction of the cementum or dentin by cementoclastic or osteoclastic activity. It may result in a shortening or blunting of the root. Lateral root resorption may also occur, resulting in a loss of root substance along the side or length of the root. Severe lateral resorption may result in penetration of the pulp canal. Root resorption may be caused by inflammation resulting from trauma or infection, or it may be unknown or idiopathic. See also resorption.

Root resorption of the teeth.

root retention,

n removal of the crown of a root-canal treated tooth, whose periodontium is not adequate to support a prosthesis but with enough retention of the root and gingival attachment to support a removable prosthesis. See also overdenture.

root submersion,

n root retention in which the tooth structure is reduced below the level of the alveolar crest and the soft tissue is allowed to heal over it. It is believed that residual ridge resorption can be minimized by this approach. See also root retention.

root, trifurcated,

n the root structure of a tooth divided into three segments.

root trunk,

n the section of root nearest the crown from which multiple roots emerge.

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canal

a relatively narrow tubular passage or channel.

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accessory canal

see lateral canal (below).

alar canal

in the body of the basisphenoid bone, transmits the maxillary artery.

alimentary canal

the digestive tube from mouth to anus. See also alimentary canal.

anal canal

the terminal portion of the alimentary canal, from the rectum to the anus.

atrioventricular canal

the common canal connecting the primitive atrium and ventricle; it sometimes persists as a congenital anomaly.

birth canal

the canal through which the fetus passes in birth.

carotid canal

one in the pars petrosa of the temporal bone, transmitting the internal carotid artery to the cranial cavity.

carpal canal

on the palmar surface of the equine carpus where the carpal groove is converted into a canal by the flexor retinaculum which stretches from the accessory carpal bone to the medial side of the carpus. It houses the flexor tendons.

central brain canal

lumen of the neural tube of the embryo within the brain.

cervical canal

the part of the uterine cavity lying within the cervix.

condyloid canal

in the occipital bone; transmits a vein.

canal of Corti

a space between the outer and inner rods of Corti.

external ear canal

the canal from the external auditory meatus to the eardrum.

facial canal

osseous tube in the temporal bone that transmits the facial nerve.

femoral canal

in the groin on the medial aspect of the thigh; contains the femoral artery and vein.

c's of Gartner

in the ventral wall of the vagina; they are remnants of the mesonephric ducts and very variable in their occurrence. Called also ductus epoophori longitudinales.

haversian canal

see haversian canal.

c's of Hering

openings between the bile canaliculi and the cholangioles, the terminal ducts of the biliary duct system. Called also cholangiole.

hyaloid canal

central canal of the vitreous humor running from the lens to the optic disk.

hypoglossal canal

an opening in the occipital bone, transmitting the hypoglossal nerve and a branch of the posterior meningeal artery; called also anterior condyloid foramen.

infraorbital canal

a canal running obliquely from the front of the orbit to the side of the muzzle, transmitting the infraorbital vessels and nerve. In the horse it passes through the maxillary sinus.

inguinal canal

the oblique passage in the caudal abdominal wall on either side, through which passes the round ligament of the uterus in some females such as the bitch and the spermatic cord in the males.

intestinal canal

small and large intestines.

lacrimal canal

the nasolacrimal canal.

lateral canal

a small canal in the root of a tooth which emerges on the side, rather than the apex. Called also accessory canal.

mandibular canal

a passageway within the mandible for conduction of the inferior alveolar vessels and nerve; the inferior alveolar nerve enters the mandibular canal through the mandibular foramen and exits at the mental foramen supplying nerves to the lower cheek teeth in passing.

medullary canal

1. vertebral canal.

2. the cavity, containing marrow, in the diaphysis of a long bone; called also marrow or medullary cavity.

metatarsal canal

formed by the metatarsal fascia on the plantar aspect of the chief metatarsal bone of the horse; transmits the tendons of the digital flexor muscles.

modiolar canal

in the cochlea of the internal ear; it transmits blood vessels and nerves to the cochlea.

nasolacrimal canal

in the maxilla it transmits the nasolacrimal duct.

nutrient c's

large vascular canals through the cortex of bones. See also haversian canal.

omasal canal

the direct passage through the omasum from the reticulum to the abomasum.

optic canal

a passage for the optic nerve through the cranium into the orbit.

palatine canal

formed by the maxilla and the palatine bone; transmits the palatine artery and nerve.

pterygoid canal

in the basisphenoid bone; contains the pterygoid nerve.

root canal

see root canal.

sacral canal

the part of the vertebral canal through the sacrum.

Schlemm's canal

the venous sinus of the sclera, a circular canal at the junction of the sclera and cornea that receives the aqueous humour. Called also scleral venous sinus.

semicircular c's

the canals (anterior, lateral and posterior) of the bony labyrinth of the ear. See also semicircular canals.

spinal canal, vertebral canal

the canal formed by the series of vertebral foramina together, enclosing the spinal cord and meninges.

supraorbital canal

in the frontal bone; transmits the frontal vein, passing through the zygomatic process to the orbital cavity.

tarsal canal

formed by the plantar annular ligament of the tarsus which roofs over the tarsal groove; transmits the deep digital flexor tendon and plantar vessels.

triosseus canal

the foramen at the junction of the coracoid, clavicle and scapula which transmits the tendon of a flight muscle, the supracoracoideus, in the avian skeleton.

vertebral canal

spinal canal.

Volkmann's c's

canals communicating with the haversian canals, for passage of blood vessels through bone from the periosteum.

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root

1. the descending and subterranean part of a plant.

2. that portion of an organ, such as a tooth, hair or nail, that is buried in the tissues, or by which it arises from another structure, or the part of a nerve that is adjacent to the center to which it is connected, e.g. root of neck, root of tail.

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calcified root canal

restriction of the diameter of the root canal due to calicification; seen in older animals.

root canal

that part of the dental pulp cavity extending from the pulp chamber to the apical foramen. Called also pulp canal.

root canal therapy

see endodontics.

dental root elevator

screwdriver-shaped instrument with a grooved and beveled blade. By pushing the tip of the blade between the tooth root and the alveolar wall the periodontal membrane is broken and the root is elevated and removed.

dorsal root

the sensory division of each spinal nerve, attached centrally to the spinal cord and joining peripherally with the ventral root to form the nerve before it emerges from the intervertebral foramen.

hair root

the part of the hair buried in the hair follicle.

mesenteric root

the small area of attachment of the mesentery to the dorsal abdominal wall at about the level of the first lumbar vertebrae. It encloses the vessels and nerves that supply the intestine.

motor root

ventral root.

nerve r's

the series of paired bundles of nerve fibers which emerge at each side of the spinal cord, termed dorsal (or posterior) or ventral (or anterior) according to their position. A series of dorsal and ventral roots join to form a spinal nerve. Certain cranial nerves, e.g. the trigeminal, also have nerve roots.

penis root

the attachment of the penis by two crura to the lateral parts of the ischial arch.

root perforation

an accidental occurrence when filing a root canal.

root planing

see dental planing.

sensory root

dorsal root.

root signature

referred pain down a limb, causing lameness or elevation of the limb, resulting from entrapment of the spinal nerve, usually by an extruded intervertebral disk.

root sheath cuticle

single layer of cornified cells of the hair follicle interdigitating with the cornified cells of the hair cuticle.

tongue root

caudal part of the tongue attached to the hyoid bone, soft palate and pharynx.

ventral root

the motor division of each spinal nerve, attached centrally to the spinal cord and joining peripherally with the dorsal root to form the nerve before it emerges from the intervertebral foramen.

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root canal

Dentistry A popular term for the complete removal of a tooth's pulp from the root canal and filling it with an inert material; RCs are performed when the decay is too deep for amalgam to provide adequate permanent therapy

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Patient discussion about root canal.

Q. How much does a root canal hurt? I have to get a root canal for my bottom tooth. I was wondering how much they hurt. And do you have any suggestions that help distract from the pain? Thanks.

A. i did one about two years ago- even the injection wasn't too bad! didn't feel a thing. but after the anesthesia worn off it hurt. but then the dentist told me to take Advil or any other NSAID and it helped.