{{Short description|none}} {{Expand list|date=February 2011}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}}
Many different terms have been proposed for features of the [[tooth]] crown in [[mammal]]s.
The structures within the molars receive different names according to their position and morphology. This nomenclature was developed by [[Henry Fairfield Osborn]] in 1907 and is, although with many variations, the one that continues today.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last1=Osborn|first1= Henry Fairfield, 1857–1935.|title=Evolution of mammalian molar teeth to and from the triangular type: including collected and revised researches on trituberculy, and new sections on the forms and homologies of the molar teeth in the different orders of mammals|date=1907|publisher=Kessinger Publishing|isbn=978-1-4368-4090-3|oclc=810943856}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite book|last1=MacCord|first1=Katherine|title=Development, evolution, and teeth: how we came to explain the morphological evolution of the mammalian dentition.|publisher=Arizona State University.|year=2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Szalay |first=Frederick S. |date=1969 |title=Mixodectidae, Microsyopidae, and the insectivore-primate transition |journal=Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History |volume=140 |article-number=4 |pages=193–330|hdl=2246/1130 |hdl-access=free |language=en-US}}</ref>
==Suffixes== Tooth structures bear [[Suffix|suffixes]] in order to note the type of structure they are and whether they are present in the upper or lower molars. * The suffix "'''-cones /-conids'''" (upper molar/lower molar) is added to the main cusps: Paracone, Metacone, Protocone and Hypocone on the upper molar, and Paraconid, Metaconid, Protoconid, Hypoconid and Entoconid on the lower molar. This name is used for both bunodont and selenodont molars, that is, as many for "buno" pillar-like cusps as for "selenes" crescent-like cusps. * The suffix "'''-conule /-conulid'''" (upper molar/lower molar) is added to the secondary cusps. For example, Metaconule, Hypoconulid. * The suffix "'''-style/-stylid'''" (upper molar/lower molar) is added to the peripheral cusps that are found in the cornices or '''cingulus''' of the tooth. These cusps are traditionally named according to their proximity to the main cusps, although some anatomists prefer to name them according to their position on the tooth. * The suffix "'''-loph/-lophid'''" (upper molar/lower molar) is added to the crests that join cusps together. They include in the name one the cusps involved. For example, the hypolophid is the ridge that unites the hypoconid with the entoconid. These ridges often have secondary ridges: the secondary crest of the ectoloph is called ''crista''; ''antecrochet'' to that of the protoloph, and ''crochet'' to that of the metaloph. * The suffix "'''-crista / -cristid'''" (upper molar / lower molar) is used for the ridges that come out of the cusps but do not connect them with other cusps. It is also used to name the edges of selenes. * To the structures in the lingual part of the molar, the prefix "'''ento-'''" ("internal") is often added, while those of the lingual part are added the prefix "'''ecto-'''" ("external"). the mesial part of the molar is often added the prefix "'''pre-'''" (from "previous") while those of the distal part are added the prefix "'''post-'''" ("posterior"). The mesial part is that which is towards the incisors. * The suffix "'''-flexus / -flexid'''" (upper molar / lower molar) is used for the open valleys in the occlusal surfaces of the [[hypsodont]] teeth. When this valleys are enclosed, they are called '''fossetes/fossetids''' (upper molar / lower molar). Sometimes they are used also for the folds of the teeth, although the proper name for the folds is '''sulcus''' (''pl.'' sulci). * The cusp prefixes "'''para-'''", "'''meta'''-", "'''proto-'''", "'''hypo-'''", etc., are related to the succession and position of the cusps according to the ancient tritubercular theory of the evolution of molars from Cope and Osborn. Although this theory has lost its validity, they continue to use the names for the description of the molars. The prefix "proto" referred to the original cusp which would be homologous to a single cusp tooth according to Osborn, and would be the first cusp to appear not only in evolution but in development.<ref name=":0" /> This was criticized early by studies of embryology where it was shown that the first cusp in the embryonic development of the upper molars was the paracone. Later this was shown to be variable and the first cusp to appear in ontogeny would not be related to the evolution of the tooth.<ref name=":1" />
== Major features == <gallery mode="packed" heights="300"> File:Tribosphenic molar diagram.png|A diagram of generalized tribosphenic molars with notable features labelled. Upper left molar in pink, lower left molar in blue. Mesial (forwards) is to the left. Teeth are depicted in left lateral view (left side and center of the image) or occlusal view (right side of the image). </gallery>The positions of tooth features are described along four directions: mesial (forwards, towards the chin), distal (backwards, towards the jaw joint), lingual (inwards, towards the tongue), and buccal or labial (outwards, towards the cheek).
=== Upper teeth === Therians (marsupials and placentals) ancestrally have roughly triangular upper molars, with the apex pointing lingually (inwards) and the flat edge positioned labially (outwards). This fundamental three-pointed structure is sometimes called the '''trigon'''. Three major cusps are almost always present:
* '''{{visible anchor|Protocone}}''': A major cusp at the lingual apex of the upper molar. In mammals with tribosphenic teeth, the protocone slides into the talonid basin on the lower teeth in order to grind and crush food. Often the largest cusp in the upper molar, though some insectivorous mammals reduce it substantially. * '''{{visible anchor|Paracone}}''': A major cusp outwards from the protocone and in front of the metacone. * '''{{visible anchor|Metacone}}''': A major cusp outwards from the protocone and behind the paracone.
Other common features include:
* '''{{visible anchor|Stylar shelf}}''': A shelf or offset surface along the outer edge of the tooth. Often bears minor cusps (stylar cusps or conules). ** '''{{visible anchor|Parastyle}}''': A forward extension of the stylar shelf which juts out at the mesiolabial (front outer) corner of the tooth, in front of and outwards from the paracone. May bear one or more minor cusps (including the '''stylocone''', which is observed in some extinct mammals). ** '''{{visible anchor|Metastyle}}''': A rearward extension of the stylar shelf which juts out at the distolabial (rear outer) corner of the tooth, behind and outwards from the metacone. May bear one or more minor cusps. ** '''{{visible anchor|Mesostyle}}''': A cusp at the midpoint of the stylar shelf. ** '''{{visible anchor|Ectoflexus}}''': A notch at the midpoint of the stylar shelf. * '''{{visible anchor|Paraconule}}''' / '''Protoconule''': A minor cusp on the front edge of the tooth, between the protocone and paracone. * '''{{visible anchor|Metaconule}}''': A minor cusp on the rear edge of the tooth, between the protocone and metacone. * '''{{visible anchor|Hypocone}}''': A fourth major cusp which only becomes widespread in placentals. It develops at the distolingual (rear inner) corner of the tooth, behind the protocone and inwards from the metacone. Mammals with a large hypocone (such as humans) have upper molars with four cusps set in a quadrate (square-shaped) arrangement rather than a triangular form. Many [[Marsupial|marsupials]] and [[Artiodactyl|artiodactyls]] have an enlarged metaconule which serves the same role as the hypocone and is occasionally labelled as a hypocone, despite being derived from a different part of the tooth.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Hunter |first1=J P |last2=Jernvall |first2=J |date=1995-11-07 |title=The hypocone as a key innovation in mammalian evolution. |journal=Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences |language=en |volume=92 |issue=23 |pages=10718–10722 |doi=10.1073/pnas.92.23.10718 |doi-access=free |issn=0027-8424 |pmc=40683 |pmid=7479871|bibcode=1995PNAS...9210718H }}</ref>
=== Lower teeth === Therians ancestrally have lower molars which are longer from front-to-back than from side-to-side. Five to six cusps are most common. The '''trigonid''' region at the front part of the molar is triangular, with three large cusps:
* '''{{visible anchor|Protoconid}}''': A major cusp at the labial apex of the trigonid region. Often the largest cusp in the lower molar. * '''{{visible anchor|Paraconid}}''': A major cusp on the inner edge of the trigonid region, inwards from the protoconid and in front of the metaconid. Humans and most other primates no longer possess a paraconid in their lower molars, leaving only five cusps. * '''{{visible anchor|Metaconid}}''': A major cusp on the inner edge of the trigonid region, inwards from the protoconid and behind the paraconid.
The '''talonid''' region at the rear part of the molar has two to three relatively small cusps which define the rear rim of a low basin:
* '''{{visible anchor|Hypoconid}}''': A major cusp at the outer rear edge of the talonid region. Typically the largest and most consistently present cusp in the talonid, though usually smaller than the trigonid cusps. The hypoconid occludes with the space at the center of the upper molar (between the protocone, paracone, and metacone). * '''{{visible anchor|Entoconid}}''': A major cusp which is sometimes present at the inner rear edge of the talonid region. * '''{{visible anchor|Hypoconulid}}''': A minor cusp which is sometimes present at the rear edge of the talonid region, between the hypoconid and entoconid.
Other common features include:
* '''{{visible anchor|Cristid obliqua}}''': A diagonal crest which runs from the hypoconid forwards to the midpoint between the protoconid and metaconid.
== Image gallery == <gallery> File:Hispanotherium matritense upper molar - Fábrica Mahou fossil site, Madrid, Spain.jpg|Lophodont teeth with ectoloph, protoloph and metaloph, several small cristae, and an entoflexus and postflexus. File:Equus caballus - molars detail.jpg|The bunolophoselenodont dentition of a horse. File:Equus.png </gallery>
== [[Cricetidae]] molar teeth nomenclature after Reig (1977) ==
These are a list of tooth features identified in the [[rodent]] family Cricetidae (hamsters, voles, New World mice and rats, etc.). Source:<ref name="Rf3" />
[[File:Cricetid teeth.png|thumb|535x535px|Cricetidae molar teeth nomenclature after Reig, 1977.]]
===Upper teeth=== {| class="wikitable sortable" ! Name !! Nomenclature term is used in !! Definition !! Comments !! Image |- | {{visible anchor|Anterolingual conule}} || Reig (1977)<ref name="Rf3">{{cite journal|last1=Reig|first1=Osvaldo A.|title=A proposed unified nomenclature for the enamelled components of the molar teeth of the Cricetidae (Rodentia)|journal=Journal of Zoology|volume=181|issue=2|year=2009|pages=227–241|issn=0952-8369|doi=10.1111/j.1469-7998.1977.tb03238.x}}</ref> || A conule on the lingual side of an anterocone divided by an anteromedian flexus or fossette || || |- | {{visible anchor|Anteromedian flexus}} || Reig (1977)<ref name=Rf3/> || A longitudinal flexus dividing the anterocone into anterolabial and anterolingual conules || || |- | {{visible anchor|Anterolabial conule}} || Reig (1977)<ref name=Rf3/> || A conule on the labial side of an anterocone divided by an anteromedian flexus or fossette || || |- | {{visible anchor|Anterocone}} || Reig (1977)<ref name=Rf3/> || A cusp at the front of the tooth that may be divided into anterolabial and anterolingual conules || || |- | {{visible anchor|Protostyle}} || Reig (1977)<ref name=Rf3/> || A style in front of the protocone, in the protoflexus || || |- | {{visible anchor|Protoflexus}} || Reig (1977)<ref name=Rf3/> || A flexus between the protocone and the anterolingual conule || || |- | {{visible anchor|Anterior mure}} || Reig (1977)<ref name=Rf3/> || A crest connecting the anterocone to the protocone || || |- | Protocone || Reig (1977)<ref name=Rf3/> || One of the main cusps, at the anterolingual side || || |- | {{visible anchor|Enterostyle}} || Reig (1977)<ref name=Rf3/> || A style between the protocone and the hypocone, in the hypoflexus || || |- | {{visible anchor|Enteroloph}} || Reig (1977)<ref name=Rf3/> || A crest connecting the enterostyle to the mesocone || || |- | {{visible anchor|Hypoflexus}} || Reig (1977)<ref name=Rf3/> || A flexus between the protocone and the hypocone || || |- | {{visible anchor|Mesocone}} || Reig (1977)<ref name=Rf3/> || A conule in the median mure where the mesoloph is attached to it || || |- | {{visible anchor|Median mure}} || Reig (1977)<ref name=Rf3/> || A crest connecting the protocone/paracone to the hypocone/metacone || || |- | Hypocone || Reig (1977)<ref name=Rf3/> || One of the main cusps, at the posterolingual side || || |- | {{visible anchor|Procingulum}} || Reig (1977)<ref name=Rf3/> || The front part of the tooth, before the anterior mure || || |- | {{visible anchor|Anteroflexus}} || Reig (1977)<ref name=Rf3/> || A flexus between the anteroloph and the anterolabial conule || || |- | {{visible anchor|Anteroloph}} || Reig (1977)<ref name=Rf3/> || A crest between the paracone and the anterolabial conule that may be connecting to a parastyle || || |- | Parastyle || Reig (1977)<ref name=Rf3/> || A style in front of the paracone || || |- | {{visible anchor|Paraflexus}} || Reig (1977)<ref name=Rf3/> || A flexus in front of the paracone || || |- | {{visible anchor|Protolophule}} || Reig (1977)<ref name=Rf3/> || A small crest in the paraflexus, connected to the protocone || || |- | {{visible anchor|Paraloph}} || Reig (1977)<ref name=Rf3/> || A crest attaching the paracone to the protocone or the median mure || || |- | Paracone || Reig (1977)<ref name=Rf3/> || One of the main cusps, at the anterolabial side || || |- | {{visible anchor|Paralophule}} || Reig (1977)<ref name=Rf3/> || A small crest attached to the back side of the paracone || || |- | {{visible anchor|Mesoflexus}} || Reig (1977)<ref name=Rf3/> || A flexus between the mesoloph and the paracone || || |- | Mesostyle || Reig (1977)<ref name=Rf3/> || A style at the labial margin between the paracone and metacone || || |- | {{visible anchor|Mesoloph}} || Reig (1977)<ref name=Rf3/> || A crest in front of the metaflexus, connected to the median mure || || |- | {{visible anchor|Metaflexus}} || Reig (1977)<ref name=Rf3/> || A flexus in front of the metacone || || |- | {{visible anchor|Metalophule}} || Reig (1977)<ref name=Rf3/> || A small crest attached to the front side of the metacone || || |- | Metacone || Reig (1977)<ref name=Rf3/> || One of the main cusps, at the posterolabial side || || |- | {{visible anchor|Metaloph}} || Reig (1977)<ref name=Rf3/> || A crest attaching the paracone to the hypocone || || |- | {{visible anchor|Posteroflexus}} || Reig (1977)<ref name=Rf3/> || A flexus between the posteroloph and the metacone || || |- | {{visible anchor|Posterostyle}} || Reig (1977)<ref name=Rf3/> || A crest on the posterolabial corner of the molar || || |- | {{visible anchor|Posteroloph}} || Reig (1977)<ref name=Rf3/> || A crest at the back of the molar, connected to the hypocone || || |} ===Lower teeth=== {| class="wikitable sortable" ! Name !! Nomenclature term is used in !! Definition !! Comments !! Image |- | {{visible anchor|Anterolingual conulid}} || Reig (1977)<ref name=Rf3/> || A conulid on the lingual side of an anteroconid divided by an anteromedian flexid or fossettid || || |- | {{visible anchor|Anteromedian flexid}} || Reig (1977)<ref name=Rf3/> || A longitudinal flexid dividing the anteroconid into anterolabial and anterolingual conules || || |- | {{visible anchor|Anterolabial conulid}} || Reig (1977)<ref name=Rf3/> || A conulid on the labial side of an anteroconid divided by an anteromedian flexid or fossettid || || |- | {{visible anchor|Anteroconid}} || Reig (1977)<ref name=Rf3/> || A cusp at the front of the tooth that may be divided into anterolabial and anterolingual conulids || || |- | {{visible anchor|Anterolabial cingulum}} || Reig (1977)<ref name=Rf3/> || A crest before the protoconid and protoflexid || || |- | {{visible anchor|Protostylid}} || Reig (1977)<ref name=Rf3/> || A stylid in front of the protoconid, in the protoflexid || || |- | {{visible anchor|Protoflexid}} || Reig (1977)<ref name=Rf3/> || A flexid between the protoconid and the anterolabial conulid || || |- | {{visible anchor|Anterior murid}} || Reig (1977)<ref name=Rf3/> || A crest connecting the anteroconid to the protoconid || || |- | Protoconid || Reig (1977)<ref name=Rf3/> || One of the main cusps, at the anterolabial side || || |- | {{visible anchor|Ectostylid}} || Reig (1977)<ref name=Rf3/> || A stylid between the protoconid and the hypoconid, in the hypoflexid || || |- | {{visible anchor|Ectolophid}} || Reig (1977)<ref name=Rf3/> || A crest connecting the ectostylid to the mesoconid || || |- | {{visible anchor|Hypoflexid}} || Reig (1977)<ref name=Rf3/> || A flexid between the protoconid and the hypoconid || || |- | {{visible anchor|Mesoconid}} || Reig (1977)<ref name=Rf3/> || A conulid in the median murid where the mesolophid is attached to it || || |- | {{visible anchor|Median murid}} || Reig (1977)<ref name=Rf3/> || A crest connecting the protoconid/metaconid to the hypoconid/entoconid || || |- | Hypoconid || Reig (1977)<ref name=Rf3/> || One of the main cusps, at the posterolabial side || || |- | {{visible anchor|Procingulum}} || Reig (1977)<ref name=Rf3/> || The front part of the tooth, before the anterior murid || || |- | {{visible anchor|Anteroflexid}} || Reig (1977)<ref name=Rf3/> || A flexid between the anterolophid and the anterolingual conulid || || |- | {{visible anchor|Anterolophid}} || Reig (1977)<ref name=Rf3/> || A crest between the metaconid and the anterolabial conulid that may be connecting to a metastylid || || |- | {{visible anchor|Metastylid}} || Reig (1977)<ref name=Rf3/> || A stylid in front of the metaconid || || |- | {{visible anchor|Metaflexid}} || Reig (1977)<ref name=Rf3/> || A flexid in front of the metaconid || || |- | {{visible anchor|Protolophulid}} || Reig (1977)<ref name=Rf3/> || A small crest in the mesoflexid, connected to the protoconid || || |- | {{visible anchor|Metalophid}} || Reig (1977)<ref name=Rf3/> || A crest attaching the metaconid to the protoconid or the anterior murid || || |- | Metaconid || Reig (1977)<ref name=Rf3/> || One of the main cusps, at the anterolingual side || || |- | {{visible anchor|Metalophulid}} || Reig (1977)<ref name=Rf3/> || A small crest attached to the back side of the metaconid || || |- | {{visible anchor|Mesoflexid}} || Reig (1977)<ref name=Rf3/> || A flexid between the mesolophid and the paraconid || || |- | {{visible anchor|Mesostylid}} || Reig (1977)<ref name=Rf3/> || A stylid at the labial margin between the metaconid and entoconid || || |- | {{visible anchor|Mesolophid}} || Reig (1977)<ref name=Rf3/> || A crest in front of the entoflexid, connected to the median murid || || |- | {{visible anchor|Entoflexid}} || Reig (1977)<ref name=Rf3/> || A flexid in front of the entoconid || || |- | {{visible anchor|Entolophulid}} || Reig (1977)<ref name=Rf3/> || A small crest attached to the front side of the entoconid || || |- | Entoconid || Reig (1977)<ref name=Rf3/> || One of the main cusps, at the posterolingual side || || |- | {{visible anchor|Entolophid}} || Reig (1977)<ref name=Rf3/> || A crest attaching the entoconid to the hypoconid or median murid || || |- | {{visible anchor|Posteroflexid}} || Reig (1977)<ref name=Rf3/> || A flexid between the posterolophid and the metaconid || || |- | {{visible anchor|Hypolophulid}} || Reig (1977)<ref name=Rf3/> || A small crest in the posteroflexid attached to the posterolophid || || |- | {{visible anchor|Posterostylid}} || Reig (1977)<ref name=Rf3/> || A crest on the posterolingual corner of the molar || || |- | {{visible anchor|Posterolophid}} || Reig (1977)<ref name=Rf3/> || A crest at the back of the molar, connected to the hypoconid || || |}
== See also == * [[Molar (tooth)]]
==References== {{reflist}}
[[Category:Glossaries of zoology|Mammalian dental topography]] [[Category:Mammal anatomy]] [[Category:Wikipedia glossaries using tables]]