What does pleurodont mean?
Pleurodont describes a particular arrangement of teeth in which they are attached to the inner side of the jaw. This contrasts with acrodont dentition, in which the teeth are positioned along the margins or upper edge of the jaw. The distinction is especially useful when comparing vertebrates, and it is frequently applied to snakes, whose teeth are generally attached inward along the jaw. Individual snake teeth can differ greatly in shape and function, from small gripping teeth to specialized venom-delivery teeth. The word is chiefly technical, appearing in zoology, dentistry, and comparative anatomy. For general readers, it provides a precise way to describe where teeth are anchored and how the internal structure of a jaw is organized.
adjectiveOf teeth: attached to the inner side of the jaw rather than along its margins. The term is especially used in zoology and comparative anatomy to describe the tooth arrangement of snakes and certain other animals.
- Of or relating to teeth attached to the inner side of the jaw.
"Snakes have a pleurodont dentition, with their teeth attached to the inner surface of the jaw."
"The specimen was identified by its pleurodont tooth arrangement."
"Most snakes are pleurodont, although their teeth differ considerably in size and function."
A snake's fangs may look as though they grow straight from its jawbone, but the arrangement of most snake teeth is pleurodont: anchored along the inner side.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of pleurodont
The word combines the combining form pleuro-, derived from Greek pleura, meaning “side,” with -dont, derived from Greek odous or odontos, meaning “tooth.” Together these elements express the idea of teeth situated on the side of the jaw. Modern comparative anatomy adopted the term to distinguish inwardly attached dentition from acrodont and other tooth arrangements.
How pleurodont is actually used
This is a specialized anatomical and zoological term. It normally describes a type of tooth attachment or dentition rather than the animal possessing it.
Easily confused with pleurodont
Pleurodont teeth are attached to the inner side of the jaw, whereas acrodont teeth are positioned along the jaw's outer margins or upper edge.