Incisor

Incisors are the first kind of tooth in heterodont mammals. In many herbivorous or omnivorous mammals, such as the human and the horse, they are adapted for shearing sharply. In cats, the incisors are small and do not do much; biting off meat is done with the canines and the carnassials. In elephants, the upper incisors are modified into tusks. The incisors of rodents grow throughout life and are worn by gnawing.

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Humans normally have eight incisors. Among other animals, some other primates, cats and horses have twelve. The rodents have four; lagomorphs were once thought to be rodents, but are distinguished by having eight.

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See also: canine tooth, molar.

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Tooth: :This page discusses bony structures used for chewing and eating. For tooth care, see oral hygiene. For the engineering sense of "tooth", see "gear"...

Heterodont: The anatomical term heterodont (from Greek, meaning 'different teeth') refers to animals which possess more than a single tooth morphology. For example, members of the Synapsida (which includes mammals) generally possess incisors, canines ('eyeteeth'), premolars, and molars. The presence of heterodo...

Herbivorous: REDIRECT Herbivore...