Dentition

Question 1

Horses - describe their muzzle and lips

Answer 1

• highly sensitive and mobile muzzle and lips
• lips are also used to gather food into the mouth

Question 2

Horses - what are their whiskers used for

Answer 2

• used to help feeling the selection of suitable vegetation

Question 3

Horses - describe the structure of their tongue and teeth

Answer 3

• tongue is long and supple, the surface has velvet like papillae which detects taste
• they have large flat table teeth

Question 4

Cows - describe their lips

Answer 4

• lips are thick and immobile
• the lower lip is hairless but area around this is usually covered with hairy skin and tactile hairs

Question 5

Cows - describe the structure tongue

Answer 5

• wide tongue
• narrow mobile tip for pretension and formation of food boluses
• tongue is pigmented in some breed
• tough backward facing papillae which aid pretension and taste

Question 6

Cows - what is the function of the hard palate and salivary glands

Answer 6

• hard palate breaks plant material before chewed and swallowed
• salivary glands lubricates food and aids in formation of boluses

Question 7

Sheep - describe their lips

Answer 7

• lips are thin and mobile
• upper lip is divided by a deep philtrum which allows sheep to nibble grass leaving it short

Question 8

Sheep - describe their tongue

Answer 8

• tongue is similar to cows
• tip of tongue is smooth
• tip of tongue is covered in papillae
• can be pigmented

Question 9

Pigs - describe structure of lip and tongue

Answer 9

• lip extends quite far back but mouth does not open as wide
• tongue is long and narrow with pointed apex

Question 10

Pigs - describe their hard palate

Answer 10

• hard palate is long and narrow
• there is no dental pad

Question 11

What is dental arcades?

Answer 11

• teeth are arranged in 2 dental arcade
• 1 associated with mandible
• 1 with maxillary bones

Question 12

What is the diastema?

Answer 12

• the gap in the teeth between the incisors and the cheek teeth

Question 13

What are heterodont species?

Answer 13

• species which have various types of teeth that are specialised for different functions

Question 14

What are dihypodont species?

Answer 14

• species which develop a set of deciduous teeth which fall out and are replaced by permanent teeth

Question 15

What are the 4 types of teeth?

Answer 15

Incisors (I1, I2, I3, I4)

Canines (C)

Premolars (PM)

Molars (M)

Question 16

What is the function and location of incisors?

Answer 16

• front of the mouth
• biting and cutting teeth, some species also use these for grooming

Question 17

What is the function and location of canines?

Answer 17

• between incisors and premolars
• not present in all species
• used to grip prey in carnivores

Question 18

What is the function and location of premolars?

Answer 18

• cheek teeth
• between canines and molars
• grind food

Question 19

What is the function and location of molars?

Answer 19

• back of mouth after premolars
• grind food

Question 20

What are hypsodont teeth?

Answer 20

• teeth with deep roots, tall crowns and no discernible neck
• straight side of tooth (cow, sheep, horse)

Question 21

What are brachydont teeth?

Answer 21

• teeth with roots, short crowns and discernible crowns
• they have a curved edge

Question 22

Equine Dental Formula - Foal

Answer 22

3 0 3 x2 = 24
3 0 3

Question 23

Equine Dental Formula - mature male

Answer 23

3 1 3(or4) 3 x2 = 40 (or 42)
3 1 3 3

Question 24

Equine Dental Formula - mature female

Answer 24

3 0 3(or4) 3 x2 = 36 (-40)
3 0 3 3

Question 25

Equine Dental Formula - characteristics

Answer 25

• hypsodontic tooth, almost entirely covered in enamel
• most of crown is below gum in foals
• cheek teeth erupt slowly throughout life
• wear patterns and tooth shape are indicative of age

Question 26

Cow Dental Formula - temporary

Answer 26

0 0 3 x2 = 20
4 0 3

Question 27

Cow Dental Formula - permanent

Answer 27

0 0 3 3 x2 = 32
4 0 3 3

Question 28

Cow Dental Formula - characteristics

Answer 28

• brachydont incisors, hard dental pad instead of incisors on top
• no canines
• lower canines develop into incisor teeth
• break grass rather than cut it, chew from side to side

Question 29

Sheep Dental Formula - temporary

Answer 29

0 0 3 x2 = 20
4 0 3

Question 30

Sheep Dental Formula - permanent

Answer 30

0 0 3 3 x2 = 32
4 0 3 3

Question 31

Sheep Dental Formula - characteristics

Answer 31

• incisor teeth have strongly curved arch, with a sharp edge for cropping grass
• cheek teeth have thinner overlying layer of cement than cattle

Question 32

Pig Dental Formula - temporary

Answer 32

3 1 4 x2 = 32
3 1 4

Question 33

Pig Dental Formula - permanent

Answer 33

3 1 4 3 x2 = 44
3 1 4 3

Question 34

Pig Dental Formula - characteristics

Answer 34

• canine teeth are known as tusks, these are open rooted
• lower tusks are larger than the upper, they continue growing
• molars are larger than premolars
• molars have flatter surface than premolars, used for grinding food