Protocone
Encyclopedia
Cusp (dentistry)
A cusp is an occlusal or incisal eminence on a tooth.Canine teeth, otherwise known as cuspids, each possess a single cusp, while premolars, otherwise known as bicuspids, possess two each. Molars normally possess either four or five cusps...
of the molars of the upper dentition
Dentition
Dentition pertains to the development of teeth and their arrangement in the mouth. In particular, the characteristic arrangement, kind, and number of teeth in a given species at a given age...
in Placental and Marsupial
Marsupial
Marsupials are an infraclass of mammals, characterized by giving birth to relatively undeveloped young. Close to 70% of the 334 extant species occur in Australia, New Guinea, and nearby islands, with the remaining 100 found in the Americas, primarily in South America, but with thirteen in Central...
vertebrates .It is found at the mesiolingual area of the tooth. The crests between the cusps are adaptations for slicing food during occlusion
Occlusion (dentistry)
Occlusion, in a dental context, means simply the contact between teeth. More technically, it is the relationship between the maxillary and mandibular teeth when they approach each other, as occurs during chewing or at rest....
or mastication
Mastication
Mastication or chewing is the process by which food is crushed and ground by teeth. It is the first step of digestion and it increases the surface area of foods to allow more efficient break down by enzymes. During the mastication process, the food is positioned between the teeth for grinding by...
(chewing).
Other cusps of the upper dentition
Dentition
Dentition pertains to the development of teeth and their arrangement in the mouth. In particular, the characteristic arrangement, kind, and number of teeth in a given species at a given age...
of hominids include the paracone
Paracone
An atmospheric reentry or spaceflight mission abort concept using an inflatable cone.A notable feature of the paracone concept is that it facilitates an abort throughout the entire flight profile....
, hypocone
Hypocone
The hypocone is the name for a main cusp found on the molars of the upper dentition of hominids. It is found on the distal lingual side of the tooth. It fits into the grooves of the lower dentition and is an adaptation for the overall grinding and tearing of foods using the occlusal of the tooth...
, and the metacone
Metacone
thumb|500px|left|Right upper molar showing the four main upper molars cusps.The metacone is a cusp on the molars of the upper dentition in hominids. It is found at the buccal distal area of the tooth...
.