About: Tomes's process

Tomes's processes (also called Tomes processes) are a histologic landmark identified on an ameloblast, cells involved in the production of tooth enamel. During the synthesis of enamel, the ameloblast moves away from the enamel, forming a projection surrounded by the developing enamel. Tomes's processes are those projections and give the ameloblast a "picket-fence" appearance under a microscope. They are located on the secretory, basal, end of the ameloblast. Tomes's processes are distinctly different from Tomes's fibers, which are odontoblastic processes that occupy dentinal tubules.