The kinds of tooth an animal has, and their shapes, are closely related to the type of food that the animal eats. Fig. 5.1 compares the teeth of a carnivore...
Question 1 Report
The kinds of tooth an animal has, and their shapes, are closely related to the type of food that the animal eats. Fig. 5.1 compares the teeth of a carnivore, which eats mainly meat, with the teeth of a herbivore, which eats mainly plants. The diagram allows the size and shape of the different teeth in each animal to be compared. In both animals the teeth carry out the physical digestion of the food, but the way in which the teeth are used depends on the animal's diet.
Fig. 5.1
(a) State the function of the large, pointed canine teeth of the carnivore. [1]
(b) Explain how the molar teeth of the herbivore are adapted to its plant diet. [3]
(c) A human eats a mixed diet of both plants and animals. Describe how a human uses its different kinds of tooth to deal with this diet. [3]
(d) Explain how the physical action of the teeth aids the chemical digestion of the food. [3]
Answer Details
This links tooth shape to diet and to physical digestion. Physical (mechanical) digestion by the teeth speeds up chemical digestion by increasing the surface area exposed to enzymes.
- (a) The large pointed canines are used for tearing / gripping flesh (meat) / holding prey [1].
- (b) The herbivore's molars are large, flat and ridged [1], giving a large surface area for grinding [1], which breaks down tough plant material / cellulose cell walls [1].
- (c) A human uses different teeth in turn: the incisors bite / cut [1], the canines tear / grip [1], and the premolars and molars grind / crush the food [1].
- (d) The teeth break the food into smaller pieces [1]; this increases the surface area of the food [1]; so enzymes can act faster and digestion is more complete [1].
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