Special feature of venomous snake teeth: How do viper teeth differ from those of other snakes?

The presence of poisonous snakes is very high today, even in areas with a high human population. Snake bites are very high in our state, especially during the summer season. Health workers say that this is clear if we examine some of the recently released figures. There is a lot of awareness about snakes and what to do if you get bitten by them.

However, many people do not have the exact knowledge about what happens when a snake bites. That is why there are many wrong trends in the name of first aid. Health experts claim that actions without accurate knowledge can hasten death.

When snakes bite, they don't just scratch the skin. When they bite someone, the venomous fangs of a snake act like a syringe (injection needle). The teeth of a deadly venomous snake like a viper are a good example of this. Venom glands (often called sacs) are situated on both sides of a snake's head, typically below and behind the eyes. They are modified parotid salivary glands enclosed in a muscular sheath. The function of the venom sac is like squeezing a bottle filled with water. When a snake bites someone, the muscles surrounding the venom glands contract and the venom flows out through the venomous fang.

The venom enters the body through the fangs and mixes with the blood in the blink of an eye. The sharpness of the viper's fangs is the reason why more venom enters when it bites. Similarly, the wound at the bite site of vipers is distinct due to their specialised, long, hollow, and hinged fangs, which can exceed 2 cm in some species. Unlike the "chewing" bite of cobras that may leave multiple teeth marks, vipers often deliver a "stab and release" bite, resulting in one or two deep, distinct, and highly painful puncture wounds.