Explain the following digestive organ and write its functions
1. teeth
Explain the following digestive organ and write its functions
1. teeth
Teeth (sometimes called "dentes") are accessory organs of the human digestive system. They are located in the buccal cavity, which is also known as the oral cavity and as the mouth.
There are normally
4 types of teeth
in an adult human mouth.
1.0 The Functions of Teeth Teeth are the organs of chewing, which is also known as mastication.
Teeth cut, tear and grind food in the mouth, enabling it to be mixed with saliva (from the salivary glands) effectively and therefore swallowed more easily.
The actions performed by the teeth are all mechanical - as opposed to chemical.
How do the functions of teeth contribute to the process of digestion ? The actions of the teeth (incl. cutting, tearing and grinding) increase the surface area of the food in the mouth. This enables the digestive enzymes greater access to the food material and so assists their role in the digestive process.
What aspects /features of the teeth lead to their effectiveness ? - Hard Surfaces
The teeth have hard surfaces because the crown of the teeth are covered by tooth enamel which is the hardest substance in the human body.
- Shape
Different types of teeth have different shapes which are adapted to different actions. For example, of the human teeth, incisors have the sharpest edges and their shape makes them good for cutting food - whereas the molars have much larger and relatively flatter surfaces which are good for grinding food between the upper- and lower- molars.
2.0 Milk Teeth and Permanent Teeth Humans usually develop two sets of teeth over a lifetime - so we are "diphyodonts".
A child's first set of teeth is referred to by many different names, including:
- milk teeth
- baby teeth
- primary teeth
- deciduous teeth
- fall teeth
- temporary teeth
- reborner teeth
This first set of teeth usually starts to erupt about six months after birth - although some babies are born with one or more visible teeth, which are called neonatal teeth. The process of milk teeth emerging through the gums can be painful. Milk teeth start to be replaced by adult teeth (also called permanent teeth) from the age of about 6 years. Most people have an almost-complete set of adult teeth by the age of about 12 years. The last of the adult teeth to emerge are the wisdom teeth, which can take a few more years to appear - usually between the ages of about 17 and 21.
Teeth (sometimes called "dentes") are accessory organs of the human digestive system. They are located in the buccal cavity, which is also known as the oral cavity and as the mouth.
There are normally
4 types of teeth
in an adult human mouth.
Teeth are the organs of chewing, which is also known as mastication.
Teeth cut, tear and grind food in the mouth, enabling it to be mixed with saliva (from the salivary glands) effectively and therefore swallowed more easily.
The actions performed by the teeth are all mechanical - as opposed to chemical.
How do the functions of teeth contribute to the process of digestion ?
The actions of the teeth (incl. cutting, tearing and grinding) increase the surface area of the food in the mouth. This enables the digestive enzymes greater access to the food material and so assists their role in the digestive process.
What aspects /features of the teeth lead to their effectiveness ?- Hard Surfaces
The teeth have hard surfaces because the crown of the teeth are covered by tooth enamel which is the hardest substance in the human body.
- Shape
Different types of teeth have different shapes which are adapted to different actions. For example, of the human teeth, incisors have the sharpest edges and their shape makes them good for cutting food - whereas the molars have much larger and relatively flatter surfaces which are good for grinding food between the upper- and lower- molars.
Humans usually develop two sets of teeth over a lifetime - so we are "diphyodonts".
A child's first set of teeth is referred to by many different names, including:
- milk teeth
- baby teeth
- primary teeth
- deciduous teeth
- fall teeth
- temporary teeth
- reborner teeth
This first set of teeth usually starts to erupt about six months after birth - although some babies are born with one or more visible teeth, which are called neonatal teeth. The process of milk teeth emerging through the gums can be painful. Milk teeth start to be replaced by adult teeth (also called permanent teeth) from the age of about 6 years. Most people have an almost-complete set of adult teeth by the age of about 12 years. The last of the adult teeth to emerge are the wisdom teeth, which can take a few more years to appear - usually between the ages of about 17 and 21.
