DENTARY Meaning and
Definition
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The term "dentary" refers to a specific anatomical structure found in many vertebrates, primarily in mammals and reptiles. It specifically denotes the lower jawbone, which is the largest bone in the lower part of the skull, responsible for holding the teeth and providing support and movement during the process of chewing. The dentary bone forms the outer surface and is a key component of the mandible.
In mammals, the dentary bone is made up of two halves that are fused at the midline, forming the shape of the lower jaw. It serves as the attachment site for the lower teeth, including incisors, canines, premolars, and molars, which are essential for biting and grinding food. Additionally, the dentary bone is involved in the articulation with the upper jawbone, known as the maxilla, enabling the complex movements required for proper chewing and speech.
The dentary bone is highly specialized and can display various morphological features depending on the species to adapt to specific dietary requirements. For instance, herbivorous mammals typically have a longer and more robust dentary bone to enhance their ability to grind tough plant material.
In summary, the dentary bone is the lower jawbone in mammals and reptiles, playing a crucial role in supporting teeth, chewing food, and facilitating oral functions. Its diverse characteristics contribute to the adaptation of various species to their respective dietary needs.
Common Misspellings for DENTARY
- sentary
- xentary
- fentary
- rentary
- eentary
- dwntary
- dsntary
- ddntary
- drntary
- d4ntary
- d3ntary
- debtary
- demtary
- dejtary
- dehtary
- denrary
- denfary
- dengary
- denyary
- dentaryt
Etymology of DENTARY
The word "dentary" has its etymology rooted in Latin. It is derived from the Latin word "dens", meaning "tooth". The term "dentary" specifically refers to the bone in the lower jaw of vertebrates that bears the teeth.
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