Teeth Flashcards
Homodont
One type of tooth (many non-mammals)
Heterodont
different types of teeth (many mammals)
T/F: molars are only found in adults
True
Baby animals do not have molars
T/F: both baby and adult animals may have premolars
True
Both babies and adults have premolars
Which bones are mammal teeth found in?
- Incisive bones
- Maxilla
- Mandible
Diphyodont
has baby and adult teeth
Hypsodont
high crowns e.g. horses
Brachydont
low crowns (relative to the overall tooth) e.g. dogs
Role of incisors
- Nibbling
- Grooming
- Cutting
Role of canines
- Grasping
- Fighting/defence
- Stabbing
- Toxin injections (some shrews/voles)
Roles of premolars and molars
- Crushing
- Shearing
- Gripping
- Grinding
Diastema
Gap between incisors and cheek teeth; typically found in herbivores
Describe jaw action in carnivores
- Move jaw sideways to engage teeth
- Pterygoideus muscles
- The muscles to move jaw sideways don’t need to be strong because the food is put in the right place before biting down
- Close jaw to shear/crush
- Masseter and temporalis musles
- These muscles need to be very strong
Describe jaw action in omnivores
Combined crush/grind action
Describe jaw action in herbivores
- Opposite to carnivores:
- Jaw is closed first around herbage (masseter)
- Then jaw is moved sideways whilst being held closed
- This allows the grinding of plant material to break down cells
- Pterygoideus muscles are large as they are working under load, equalled by masseter muscles
Lophodont
Structure of teeth in odd-toed herbivores
Selenodont
Structure of teeth in even-toed herbivores
Describe secodont arrangement of teeth
- e.g. carnivores
- Staggered teeth good for gripping hard and soft round objects
- Carnassial teeth overlap as the jaw closes to create cutting/scissor action
Where is enamel in herbivore teeth?
- Enamel is inside the tooth, covered by cement.
1
Crown: visible (supragingival) region of the tooth. Consists of smooth, hard enamel and hard dentine.
2
Enamel
- Hardest known biological substance outside of limpets
- Acellular once formed so cannot be repaired if damaged
- Mostly made of hydroxyapetite
- Dissolves in acid e.g. coca cola
Dentine
living tissue within the pulp cavity. Contains odontoblasts with processes in dentinal tubules.