Dictionary > Bicuspid tooth

Bicuspid tooth

Definition
noun
A tooth with two cusps; a premolar tooth.
Supplement
Bicuspid is located between the canine and molar teeth, and is considered as a transitional tooth. Because it has the properties of both the anterior canines and posterior molars, food can be transferred from canines to premolars and finally to molars for grinding, instead of directly from canines to molars.
Adult humans have a total of eight premolars: maxillary first premolar, maxillary second premolar, mandibular first premolar, and the mandibular second premolar.
Word origin: New Latin bicuspis, bicuspid- : Latin bi-, two + Latin cuspis, sharp point.
Synonym: premolar tooth, dens bicuspidus.

Compare: cuspid, molar.


You will also like...

Lake Wakatipu, New Zealand
New Zealand’s Unique Geographical History

Explore why New Zealand has such unique flora and fauna, and learn why long periods of geographical isolation. This less..

An artist's depiction of the origin of amphibians
Amphibians & Early Reptiles

Obtaining air outside an aquatic environment required species to acquire suitable adaptations, and this was the case of ..

Homeostatic Mechanisms and Cellular Communication
Homeostatic Mechanisms and Cellular Communication

Homeostasis is the relatively stable conditions of the internal environment that result from compensatory regulatory res..

human respiratory system
Respiration

The human respiratory system is an efficient system of inspiring and expiring respiratory gases. This tutorial provides ..

Pollution in Freshwater Ecosystems
Pollution in Freshwater Ecosystems

There are many environmental factors that arise due to the usage of water in one way or another and for every action tha..

Thermographic image of face and neck
Regulation of Organic Metabolism, Growth and Energy Balance

The human body is capable of regulating growth and energy balance through various feedback mechanisms. Get to know the e..

Related Articles...

No related articles found

See all Related Topics