Mammal, hypsodont teeth (Gross, Medium)

Structure List Mandible Tooth roots Masticatory surface Low Magnification View

The type of teeth, particularly cheek teeth, differ between the herbivore and other animals. Herbivores have compound teeth called HYPSODONT teeth and other animals have simple or BRACHYDONT teeth. The dentition of herbivores must allow for continuous and considerable wear at the masticatory surfaces. Why? This requirement is met by continued growth throughout life and a complicated folding of the enamel. The folding has two important consequences. It increases the amount of the hardest and most durable component of the tooth that is exposed and so reduces the rate of attrition. It provides an alternation of harder and softer materials which, wearing at different rates, produces an unevenness of the masticatory surface that gives it a rasplike quality.