dentàries

Dentàries is a term found in some Romance language contexts, notably Catalan, used to refer to tooth-related structures or topics. In a general sense it encompasses anatomy, dentistry, and processes connected with teeth and dental tissues.

In anatomy and paleontology, dentàries commonly refer to the dentary or dentaries, which are the bones forming the lower jaw. The dentary is the principal bone of the lower jaw in most jawed vertebrates. In mammals, it represents the sole bone of the lower jaw, while in many other vertebrates it works alongside other jaw bones to form the jaw joint and help support dentition. The study of dentaries sheds light on jaw mechanics, feeding strategies, and evolutionary changes in skull morphology.

The evolutionary significance of dentaries is notable. Fossil records show a trend from multi-bone lower jaws in early gnathostomes to a dominant dentary bone in mammals. This transition accompanied changes in the jaw joint and the bones of the middle ear, influencing both feeding efficiency and hearing. Comparative anatomy across vertebrate lineages uses dentaries to understand functional adaptation and developmental biology.

In contemporary usage, dentàries or dentaries may appear in academic writing as references to tooth-bearing structures or as a plural form denoting multiple dentary bones in specimens or species. The exact sense can vary by language and field, so context is important. There is no single universal English term corresponding directly to all uses of dentàries; practitioners typically rely on more specific terms like dentary bone, dentition, or dental anatomy.

See also: dentary bone, dentition, jaw joint, vertebrate skull.