ZoologyLesson 1 of 4 in the course Oral anatomy and tooth structure

Comparative Teeth: Structure, Feeding, Replacement, and Evolution

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 5 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

Teeth are durable structures that help animals obtain and process food, but their uses and forms vary widely. This lesson introduces tooth structure, functions, attachment, and the different patterns of tooth replacement.

A tooth is a hard, calcified structure found in the jaws or mouths of many vertebrates. Teeth are not bones. They are made of several tissues with different degrees of hardness and density, including enamel, dentine, and cementum. The roots of many teeth are covered by gums.

All flashcards

What is a tooth in vertebrates?
A hard, calcified structure in the jaws or mouths of many vertebrates, made of multiple tissues rather than bone.
What are some functions of teeth besides breaking down food?
They can capture or wound prey, tear food, defend or intimidate, and carry prey or young.
What does diphyodont mean?
An animal is diphyodont if it develops an early deciduous set followed by a permanent set.
How are shark teeth attached to the jaw?
Tough ligaments connect them to the cartilage that forms the jaw.
How do invertebrate tooth-like structures relate to vertebrate teeth?
They may perform similar feeding functions, but resemblance alone does not establish a shared developmental origin.

Quiz questions

  1. What is the molluscan radula?Answer: A ribbon of chitinous teeth used to scrape or cut food.
  2. What makes an amphibian tooth pedicellate?Answer: Connective tissue and uncalcified dentine separate its crown from its base.
  3. How do elephant molars move as they wear down?Answer: Successive molars move forward as earlier grinding teeth wear out.
  4. What can acids do to a tooth during decalcification?Answer: Remove mineral from enamel while leaving organic tissues intact.
  5. What does a dental formula describe?Answer: The number and pattern of tooth types in a group.

Based on the Wikipedia article Tooth, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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