Functions of Teeth in Human Anatomy

Study Notes

Functions of Teeth

Teeth serve three primary functions in food processing: cutting, holding, and grinding.

Incisors

Incisors are designed to cut food, indicated by the term "incisor" meaning to cut.
The biting edge is called the incisal edge; the tongue-facing side is shaped like a shovel to assist in guiding food.
Humans have eight incisors: four maxillary (upper jaw) and four mandibular (lower jaw), with two on each side.

Canines

Canines function as holding or grasping teeth, resembling spearheads for piercing and holding.
Their role is crucial in animals like dogs, providing an ability to pierce and hold prey.
In humans, canines protect the jaw joint during lateral (side-to-side) movements, being the only teeth in contact during such motions.
They are the longest and most stable teeth, possessing the longest roots, particularly maxillary canines which have the highest root-to-crown ratio.
Canine roots are triangular in cross-section, allowing them to maintain their position in the jaw.

Premolars

Premolars bridge the characteristics of canines and molars, featuring at least two cusps for effective food processing.
They assist in holding and grinding food, with pointed buccal cusps holding food and lingual cusps grinding it.
Commonly referred to as bicuspids, this term is misleading as some premolars have three cusps.
There are four maxillary and four mandibular premolars, with two on each side.

Molars

Molars are larger than premolars, typically featuring four or more cusps.
Each molar resembles two premolars fused, with a primary function of chewing or grinding food.
Adult dentition includes 12 molars; maxillary molars interlock with mandibular molars, creating a crushing mechanism.
Unlike incisors, molars have cusps designed for interlocking (intercuspation), facilitating efficient grinding and crushing of food.
The number of cusps on molars can vary, with three, four, or five depending on their location in the mouth.

Description

Explore the essential functions of teeth, focusing on incisors and canines. Learn how incisors cut food and how canines assist in holding and grasping. This quiz highlights the unique anatomy and purpose of these teeth in humans and other animals.