bicuspid

Bicuspid is a descriptive term used in anatomy and dentistry to indicate the presence of two cusps or leaflets, in contrast to tricuspid (three) or quadricuspid (four). It derives from the Latin bi- meaning two and cuspis meaning cusp.

In medicine, bicuspid most often refers to heart valves. The normal left atrioventricular valve, the mitral valve, is bicuspid, consisting of two leaflets. A related and clinically important condition is a bicuspid aortic valve (BAV), a congenital anomaly in which the aortic valve has only two cusps instead of three. BAV affects a portion of the population and can lead to aortic stenosis or regurgitation; it may be associated with other congenital heart defects and can progress with age, sometimes requiring monitoring or intervention such as valve repair or replacement.

In dentistry, bicuspid describes the premolar teeth, typically the first and second premolars, which replace the deciduous canines and molars and usually have two cusps. Premolars assist in tearing and grinding food and can be sites of dental caries, wear, or cusp-related anomalies.

The term is also used in other biological contexts to describe two-pointed structures, but its medical and dental usages are the most common. Diagnosis and management in affected patients depend on the tissue involved, employing imaging such as echocardiography for valves or radiographs for teeth, with treatment tailored to the specific cusp-related condition.