Teeth Gallery

Skull anatomy by Leonardo da Vinci

Skull anatomy by Leonardo da Vinci. Historical artwork and notes on the anatomy of the human skull and teeth, by the Italian artist and scientist Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519). This bisected skull shows the external structure (right), and dissected facial sinuses (left), the air-filled spaces inside the bones of the face. The diagram at lower left shows the teeth present in one half of the mouth: 4 incisors, 2 canines, 4 pre-molars, and 6 molars. Da Vinci was the first anatomist known to have correctly noted the number and root structure of human teeth. The notes are an example of his mirror writing, which was written backwards from right to left, and could be read in a mirror

© SHEILA TERRY/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Hippopotamus mouth

Hippopotamus mouth. The hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) is a large and heavy African herbivore. It can reach a length of over 3 metres, and can weigh over 3 tonnes. It has sharp canines that are used to attack mating rivals and defend itself. It can open its mouth to an angle of 150 degrees, compared to 45 degrees in humans. It feeds on vegetation in rivers and lakes in sub-Saharan Africa, emerging at night to feed on grasses. The hippopotamus communicates with a variety of grunts and rumbling noises

© Mark Newman/Science Photo Library

Human skull, X-ray

Human skull. Coloured X-ray of a sagittal section through a human skull. The skull has been sliced in half down the centre, revealing details of the internal structures. These include the delicate bones and spaces of the paranasal sinuses (around the nose and eyes, centre left). The fused bones of the cranium encase and protect the brain. The nasal, cheek and upper jaw bones are fused to the cranium to form the facial skeleton (left). The lower jaw bone (mandible, lower left), is attached at flexible joints, allowing it to move. The upper and lower jaw bones contain 32 permanent teeth (lower left). The eye sockets (one at far left) house the eyes

© D. ROBERTS/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY