[Biological role of movement in the temporomandibular joint in sheepdogs and house cats].

The temporomandibular joints of the dog and the cat differ in morphology and movement. Characteristic differences in the teeth and the movement of the mandibula result in species-specific mastication: The dog grinds and crunches food. Moving the molars vertically, the cat cuts food to pieces. It has been postulated that the cat masticates more thoroughly than the dog. This is not true. The unilateral mincing of the cat is due to the extremely secodont teeth without possibility to grind.