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Related Concept Videos

Tooth Anatomy01:21

Tooth Anatomy

The human tooth enables us to eat a variety of foods, speak clearly, and even aid in shaping our faces. Teeth are composed of various elements that work together. Here's a detailed look at the anatomy of a human tooth.
The Crown, Neck, and Root
The visible part of the tooth is referred to as the crown. It's covered by enamel, the hardest substance in the human body. The crown is uniquely shaped for each type of tooth, allowing for different functions such as cutting, tearing, or grinding food.
Teeth01:15

Teeth

The formation of teeth, also known as odontogenesis, is a complex process that begins in utero, around the sixth week of embryonic development. There are three stages to this process: the bud stage, the cap stage, and the bell stage.
In the bud stage, the tooth germ (an aggregation of cells) starts to form in the developing jawbone. During the cap stage, the tooth germ differentiates into enamel organ, dental papilla, and dental sac, which will later develop into the tooth's enamel, dentin and...
Cranial Bones: Lateral View01:27

Cranial Bones: Lateral View

The lateral view of the cranium is dominated by temporal, sphenoid, and ethmoid bones.
The temporal bone forms the lower lateral side of the skull. The temporal bone is subdivided into several regions. The flattened upper portion is the squamous portion of the temporal bone. Below this area and projecting anteriorly is the zygomatic process of the temporal bone, which forms the posterior portion of the zygomatic arch. Posteriorly is the mastoid portion of the temporal bone. Projecting...
Cranial Bones: Superior and Posterior View01:14

Cranial Bones: Superior and Posterior View

The superior view of the cranium shows the frontal and paired parietal bones.
The frontal bone is the single bone that forms the forehead. At its anterior midline, between the eyebrows, there is a slight depression called the glabella. The frontal bone also forms the supraorbital margin of the orbit. Near the middle of this margin is the supraorbital foramen, the opening that provides passage for a sensory nerve to the forehead. The frontal bone is thickened just above each supraorbital margin,...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 22, 2026

Systematic Assessment of Mammalian Skull Specimens for Dental and Temporomandibular Joint Pathology
07:26

Systematic Assessment of Mammalian Skull Specimens for Dental and Temporomandibular Joint Pathology

Published on: August 22, 2022

Estimating canine tooth crown height in early Australopithecus.

J Michael Plavcan1, Carol V Ward, Faydre L Paulus

  • 1Department of Anthropology, 330 Old Main, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA. mplavcan@uark.edu

Journal of Human Evolution
|June 2, 2009
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Canine tooth size in early hominins like Australopithecus anamensis may have been greater than previously thought. However, analysis suggests low sexual dimorphism, similar to modern humans.

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07:32

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Published on: February 23, 2024

Area of Science:

  • Paleoanthropology
  • Human Evolution
  • Primate Dental Morphology

Background:

  • Canine tooth size reduction and decreased canine dimorphism are key hominin traits linked to behavioral evolution.
  • Previous studies suggest Australopithecus anamensis may exhibit greater canine size variation and dimorphism than other hominins.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To estimate canine crown height in Australopithecus afarensis and Australopithecus anamensis using root and crown dimensions.
  • To evaluate canine size variation and sexual dimorphism in Australopithecus anamensis.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of canine root and crown dimensions in extant hominoids.
  • Estimation of canine crown height from basal canine crown and root dimensions.
  • Comparison of estimated canine crown sizes between Australopithecus afarensis and Australopithecus anamensis.

Main Results:

  • Canine crown height can be estimated from basal dimensions with moderate accuracy.
  • Australopithecus anamensis maxillary canine size estimates are slightly larger than Australopithecus afarensis, comparable to female chimpanzees.
  • Estimated mandibular canine crown height is similar between the two species, and variation in Australopithecus anamensis suggests low sexual dimorphism.

Conclusions:

  • Canine size and dimorphism in Australopithecus anamensis are not substantially different from other hominins, even with the inclusion of new specimens.
  • The findings support models of behavioral evolution related to canine reduction in early hominins.