Question

The hardest substance in human body is
A. Dentine
B. Collagen
C. Melanin
D. Enamel

Answer 1

Hint: The Enamel and the dentine are the two types of tissue that make up teeth where collagen is the most abundant protein.

Complete Answer:
- Our body substances are made up of minerals, water and organic materials. The hardness of the substance depends mainly on the presence of minerals. The substance which has higher density of minerals has more hardness.
- The melanin is the pigment in the skin or in the hair color.
- The enamel and dentine are very different. The enamel has more than 85% minerals, combined with a small amount of collagen, organic material and water and the dentine is highly organic.
- Dentine is composed of about 47% mineral, with the remainder having a combination of organic matter and water. Dentine reacts much differently to erosive activity and wear than enamel.
- The hardest substance in the human body is enamel. Enamel is the hardest white outer part of our teeth and is made up of calcium phosphate.
- Dentine is the layer underlying enamel and is made up of living cells that secrete hard mineral substances.
- Collagen in teeth helps to bind them together and firmly places gums.
- Melanin is a natural skin pigment which is responsible to impart skin color, eye color etc.

Therefore, the correct answer is (D) Enamel.

Note: Grown pulp chamber, neck, dental root and root canal are different parts of teeth. The four different types of teeth are incisors, canines, premolars and molars.
The study of structure, development and abnormalities of teeth is called odontology.