Question

The term 'diastema' refers to which feature, and in whom is it present?

Options

• A prominent chin, present in man but absent in apes

• The bony ridge above the eye socket, present in apes

• A tooth gap, present in apes but absent in man

• The downward-directed opening at the skull base, present in man

Answer 1

A diastema is a tooth gap in the jaw. It is present in apes, where it accommodates the large canines, but is absent in man, who has small canines with no tooth gap.