University of Central Florida (UCF) ANT2511 The Human Species Practice Exam 2

Incisors are the type of teeth primarily responsible for biting food into pieces. These teeth are situated at the front of the mouth and have a sharp, thin edge which makes them perfectly suited for cutting through food. Their primary role is to help in the initial phase of digestion by clipping and slicing food into manageable sizes before it is processed further by the other types of teeth.

In contrast, canines are pointed and are primarily used for tearing food, particularly in meat-eating animals. Premolars serve to crush and grind food, aiding in the process of digestion after it has been initially sliced by the incisors. Molars, located further back in the mouth, are even larger and are specialized for grinding food into smaller particles, which is essential for effective chewing and digestion. Each tooth type has distinct functions that contribute to the overall process of chewing, but incisors are specifically designed for biting.