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Definition: Trituberculy
Trituberculy
\Tri`tu*ber"cu*ly\, n. [Pref. tri- + L. tuberculum
tubercle.] (Zo["o]l.)
A theory of the development of mammalian molar teeth. The
primitive stage is that of simple cones, as in reptiles. The
simple cone then developed a smaller cone in front and
another behind. Next, a cingulum was developed, and the three
cones became arranged in a triangle, the two smaller cusps
having moved to the outer side in upper and to the inner in
lower molars. This primitive triangle is called the trigon or
trigonid and this stage the tritubercular or trigonodont. The
trigon being a cutting apparatus, an extension of the
posterior part of the crown was developed in lower molars for
crushing, and a smaller corresponding part appeared in upper
molars. Another large cone then arose, usually from the
cingulum. In more complex forms, smaller intermediate cusps
appeared.
[Webster 1913 Suppl.]