pulpa

Pulpa is a term of Latin origin, meaning soft substance, flesh, or pulp. In modern scientific language, pulpa is used primarily in Latinized compound terms to refer to a soft inner part of an organ or structure. In several Romance languages, pulpa translates directly to pulp, as in fruit pulp (pulpa de fruta).

Dental pulp, or pulpa dentis, is the innermost part of a tooth. It consists of loose connective tissue, nerves, blood vessels, and odontoblasts. The pulp supplies nutrients and sensory function to the tooth, and inflammation or infection (pulpitis) can cause tooth pain. Root canal therapy removes or treats diseased pulpa.

Pulpa in botany refers to the soft, fleshy tissue inside fruits and vegetables, or the non-woody inner portion. Fruit pulp is used in juices, purées, jams, and baby foods. In the paper industry, pulp refers to cellulose fiber material produced from wood or non-wood sources by mechanical or chemical processes.

Outside modern anatomy, pulpa appears in Latin-based terms as a generic designation for soft tissue within an organ. In English, the common term is pulp, while pulpa is encountered mainly in scientific Latin phrases and in some Romance-language usage.