Dentale

/dɛnˈtæli/ noun

Definition

A bone found in the lower jaw of fish and some other animals, equivalent to part of the human mandible.

Etymology

From Latin 'dentalis' meaning 'relating to teeth.' In anatomy, this term refers to a specific bone in vertebrate skulls that is associated with the teeth-bearing region of the jaw.

Kelly Says

The dentale bone shows up in fish, amphibians, and reptiles but not in mammals like us—studying how the dentale evolved and fused with other bones is key to understanding how jaws evolved from fish to humans.

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