Teeth & Digestion (CIE IGCSE Biology)
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Types of Human Teeth
- Mechanical digestion is the breakdown of food into smaller pieces without chemical change to the food molecules
- It is mainly carried out by the chewing action of the teeth, the churning action of the stomach and the emulsification of fats by bile in the duodenum
- Teeth are held firmly in the bone of the jaw
- They are used for chewing to increase the surface area of the food so that it can be exposed to saliva and other digestive juices and broken down more quickly
- The differing shapes and sizes of teeth enable them to perform slightly different functions:
- Incisors - chisel-shaped for biting and cutting
- Canines - pointed for tearing, holding and biting
- Premolars and molars - larger, flat surfaces with ridges at the edges for chewing and grinding up food
Types of teeth
Structure of a Tooth
Structure of a typical tooth
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