Lab 8 Flashcards
Functional Morphology
Study of how anatomical structures relate to their function.
Fallback Foods
Foods eaten during scarcity that may shape dental adaptations.
Anterior Teeth
Incisors and canines; used for food acquisition/preparation.
Posterior Teeth
Premolars and molars; used for chewing/grinding.
Procumbent Incisors
Incisors angled forward for peeling tough fruit rinds.
Dagger-like Canines
Sharp, pointed canines for display/fighting (e.g., male apes).
Diastema
Gap in tooth row accommodating large canines.
C/P3 Honing Complex
Lower premolar sharpens upper canine in apes/Old World monkeys.
Molariform Premolars
Premolars resembling molars for crushing/grinding.
Cusp Height
High/sharp (folivores) vs. low/rounded (hard-object eaters).
Enamel Thickness
Thick: Resists wear (hard foods). Thin: Maintains sharp edges.
Orthognathism
Flat face (e.g., humans/Paranthropus).
Temporalis Muscle
Chewing muscle attaching to coronoid process/sagittal crest.
Masseter Muscle
Chewing muscle attaching to zygomatic arch/mandible.
Lever System
Jaw biomechanics: trade-off between power (mechanical advantage) and speed (velocity ratio).
Mechanical Advantage
High in species with powerful, slow chewing (e.g., gorillas).
Velocity Ratio
High in species with fast, weak jaw closure (e.g., crocodiles).
