SECOND SECTION · SECOND CHAPTER · FIRST PART · Sixth Article
Sixth Article
It describes the structure, names, shapes, and order of human teeth.
O noble one! It should be known that the scholars of anatomy have said: A human being
has thirty-two teeth. And in some people, since the four rearmost molars (wisdom teeth)
are missing, there are twenty-eight teeth.
Of the teeth in the middle, the two sanāyā (the four front teeth, the incisors) [570] and the two upper teeth of the rubāʿiyya (the four teeth between the front teeth and the molars, two of which are on the lower jaw) [571] and their counterparts on the lower side are arranged for the function of cutting. The two upper canine teeth (the dog teeth) and their two lower counterparts are for the function of tearing.
Behind these, on both sides, two upper and two lower teeth are created for grinding.
Behind them, on each side, two rearmost teeth are created for chewing. The four rearmost molars have emerged to complete this process. Thus, there are two front teeth, four teeth at the back, four lateral incisors or molars on the sides of the jaw, eight grinding teeth, eight rear teeth, and the four rearmost molars, making a total of thirty-two teeth. The four rearmost molars appear in most people during adulthood. Therefore, their name is the wisdom teeth. The roots and limited crowns of the teeth are located in the sockets of the supporting bones in both jaws. On the side of each socket, there is a circular flesh. On top of it, a small bone has grown, which surrounds the teeth and fastens them with a strong bond. Each of the teeth, except for the rear teeth, has one root. However, each of the aforementioned rear teeth in the lower jaw has been determined to have two or three roots. The two rearmost teeth have three roots each.
For the rear teeth located in the upper jaw, three or four roots have been created. Especially the molars have four roots. The reason for the abundance of roots in the rear teeth is that they are large and have many functions. The wisdom for the abundance of roots in the upper jaw teeth is that these teeth can resist being pulled downward, and to withstand this pulling, their weight inclines in the opposite direction of the roots. The teeth in the lower jaw, however, do not have their weight opposed to their roots. None of the bones in the body have sensation. However, the dental bones do not lack sensation due to the nerves coming from the brain. For the dental bones can distinguish between heat and cold, sweet and sour, and other opposing sensations. Other bones do not feel these.
“Glory be to Allah, Who created all these in the most beautiful way and gave them form, and Whose glory is most exalted.”
[567] .
(Shawk): Means thorn. In medicine, it refers to the bony protrusions (nūtūʾ shawkī) on the vertebral column (ʿamūd al-faqārī).
[568] . Sesamoid: A bone developed within tendons and not connected to other bones.
[569] . “Subḥāna’l-Khāliq al-Bāriʾ al-Muṣawwir wa Subḥāna’l-Ṣāniʿ al-Ḥakīm al-Badīʿ al-Muqaddir jallat ʿaẓamatuhu wa kamulat qudratuhu.”
[570] . Sanāyā: The four front teeth, the incisors. Lateral incisors.
[571] . Rubāʿiyya: The four teeth between the front teeth and the molars, two of which are on the lower jaw.
. (Shawk): Means thorn. In medicine, it refers to the bony protrusions (nūtūʾ shawkī) on the vertebral column (ʿamūd al-faqārī).
. Rubāʿiyya: The four teeth between the front teeth and the molars, two of which are on the lower jaw.
. Sanāyā: The four front teeth, the incisors. Lateral incisors.
. “Subḥāna’l-Khāliq al-Bāriʾ al-Muṣawwir wa Subḥāna’l-Ṣāniʿ al-Ḥakīm al-Badīʿ al-Muqaddir jallat ʿaẓamatuhu wa kamulat qudratuhu.”
. Sesamoid: A bone developed within tendons and not connected to other bones.
“We declare Allah, Who created and shaped in the most beautiful form, Who with His wisdom created everything in the best way, and Whose glory is exalted, free from all deficiency. His glory is exalted, His power is infinite.”
Of the teeth in the middle, the two sanāyā and the two upper teeth of the rubāʿiyya and their counterparts on the lower side are arranged for the function of cutting. The two upper canine teeth (the dog teeth) and their two lower counterparts are for the function of tearing.
Behind these, on both sides, two upper and two lower teeth are created for grinding.
Behind them, on each side, two rearmost teeth are created for chewing. The four rearmost molars have emerged to complete this process. Thus, there are two front teeth, four teeth at the back, four lateral incisors or molars on the sides of the jaw, eight grinding teeth, eight rear teeth, and the four rearmost molars, making a total of thirty-two teeth. The four rearmost molars appear in most people during adulthood. Therefore, their name is the wisdom teeth. The roots and limited crowns of the teeth are located in the sockets of the supporting bones in both jaws. On the side of each socket, there is a circular flesh. On top of it, a small bone has grown, which surrounds the teeth and fastens them with a strong bond. Each of the teeth, except for the rear teeth, has one root. However, each of the aforementioned rear teeth in the lower jaw has been determined to have two or three roots. The two rearmost teeth have three roots each.
O noble one! It should be known that the scholars of anatomy have said: The importance of some bones in the body, such as the vertebrae (fiqār al-ṣulb), is like the importance of the foundation in a building. For the vertebral bones are the foundations of the body. All the limbs are built upon and supported by the vertebral column. Just as all the parts of a ship are placed upon the mast that centers the ship, so too are all the organs of the body placed upon and supported by the vertebral bone. Some bones serve as protective shields in the body, like the fontanelle in the heads of newborn children. Some bones confront dangers, as in the case of the shawk-like bones on the vertebral column. Some serve as shields that ward off dangers, like the sesamoid bones (ʿiẓām simsimāniyya) found between the finger bones. Some bones fill the gaps between joints. Some bones are attached to structures that need support, like the bones resembling the letter 'lam' () for the muscles of the tongue and larynx and others. All bones are the supports and pillars, protectors and guardians of the body. In the middle of their hard and hollow structures, there is a canal. The marrow collected inside is its nourishment.
The greatest benefit of being hollow inside is lightness. The benefit of having a single cavity is that it remains in the state of a hard body. The benefit of hardness is that it does not break during hard movements. The benefit of the marrow inside, as previously stated, is that it is the nourishment of the bone and always provides moisture to the bone. Thus, the hollow bone does not loosen and shatter as it moves. Where the bone needs to be more durable, its cavity (canal) is narrow. Thus, the shin bones are created in this way. The organs of the body are loaded upon them. Where the bone needs to be light, its cavity is wide. Thus, the nasal bones are created in this way. For the aforementioned nourishment, for the scents diffused by air to reach that bone, and for the excesses descending from the brain to exit from it, the nasal bones are created thus. All the bones of the body are created close and adjacent to each other. The small gap between them is filled with cartilaginous ligaments [113/b] created for the benefit of the cartilaginous bones. Where this benefit is not needed, two bones are created separate from each other without a ligament between them, as in the case of the lower jawbone.
O noble one! It should be known that the scholars of anatomy have said: The importance of some bones in the body, such as the vertebrae (fiqār al-ṣulb), is like the importance of the foundation in a building. For the vertebral bones are the foundations of the body. All the limbs are built upon and supported by the vertebral column. Just as all the parts of a ship are placed upon the mast that centers the ship, so too are all the organs of the body placed upon and supported by the vertebral bone. Some bones serve as protective shields in the body, like the fontanelle in the heads of newborn children. Some bones confront dangers, as in the case of the shawk-like bones on the vertebral column. Some serve as shields that ward off dangers, like the sesamoid bones (ʿiẓām simsimāniyya) found between the finger bones. Some bones fill the gaps between joints. Some bones are attached to structures that need support, like the bones resembling the letter 'lam' () for the muscles of the tongue and larynx and others. All bones are the supports and pillars, protectors and guardians of the body. In the middle of their hard and hollow structures, there is a canal. The marrow collected inside is its nourishment.
The greatest benefit of being hollow inside is lightness. The benefit of having a single cavity is that it remains in the state of a hard body. The benefit of hardness is that it does not break during hard movements. The benefit of the marrow inside, as previously stated, is that it is the nourishment of the bone and always provides moisture to the bone. Thus, the hollow bone does not loosen and shatter as it moves. Where the bone needs to be more durable, its cavity (canal) is narrow. Thus, the shin bones are created in this way. The organs of the body are loaded upon them. Where the bone needs to be light, its cavity is wide. Thus, the nasal bones are created in this way. For the aforementioned nourishment, for the scents diffused by air to reach that bone, and for the excesses descending from the brain to exit from it, the nasal bones are created thus. All the bones of the body are created close and adjacent to each other. The small gap between them is filled with cartilaginous ligaments [113/b] created for the benefit of the cartilaginous bones. Where this benefit is not needed, two bones are created separate from each other without a ligament between them, as in the case of the lower jawbone.
Of the teeth in the middle, the two sanāyā and the two upper teeth of the rubāʿiyya and their counterparts on the lower side are arranged for the function of cutting. The two upper canine teeth (the dog teeth) and their two lower counterparts are for the function of tearing.
Behind these, on both sides, two upper and two lower teeth are created for grinding.
Behind them, on each side, two rearmost teeth are created for chewing. The four rearmost molars have emerged to complete this process. Thus, there are two front teeth, four teeth at the back, four lateral incisors or molars on the sides of the jaw, eight grinding teeth, eight rear teeth, and the four rearmost molars, making a total of thirty-two teeth. The four rearmost molars appear in most people during adulthood. Therefore, their name is the wisdom teeth. The roots and limited crowns of the teeth are located in the sockets of the supporting bones in both jaws. On the side of each socket, there is a circular flesh. On top of it, a small bone has grown, which surrounds the teeth and fastens them with a strong bond. Each of the teeth, except for the rear teeth, has one root. However, each of the aforementioned rear teeth in the lower jaw has been determined to have two or three roots. The two rearmost teeth have three roots each.