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anatomy of a bivalve shell click to hear : anatomy of a bivalve shell

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See anatomy of a bivalve shell in : french | spanish
shell ligament umbo foot mantle intestine cerebropleural ganglion visceral ganglion anus posterior adductor muscle kidney heart digestive gland stomach anterior adductor muscle labial palp mouth gonad gills

shell click to hear : shell

Calcareous casing produced by the mantle; it has three layers and protects the main organs of the mollusk.

ligament click to hear : ligament

Corneous structure located behind the umbones and joining both valves of the shell; its elasticity allows them to pull apart.

umbo click to hear : umbo

Protuberance at the terminal end of the valve, from which the shell grows.

foot click to hear : foot

Short flat movable muscular organ located on the ventral surface; it allows the snail to move or to attach itself to a support using elastic filaments.

mantle click to hear : mantle

Thick fold of tissue forming two lateral lobes; it envelops the organic mass of the mollusk and secretes its shell.

intestine click to hear : intestine

Section of the digestive tract between the stomach and the anus where absorption of nutrients is carried out and waste is transformed into fecal matter.

cerebropleural ganglion click to hear : cerebropleural ganglion

Small sac located near the anterior abductor muscle; the nervous system is made up of three pairs of ganglia (cerebropleural, visceral and pedal).

visceral ganglion click to hear : visceral ganglion

Small sac located near the posterior abductor muscle; the nervous system is made up of three pairs of ganglia (cerebropleural, visceral and pedal).

anus click to hear : anus

Terminal orifice of the digestive tract enabling ejection of fecal matter.

posterior adductor muscle click to hear : posterior adductor muscle

Powerful muscle attached to both inside surfaces of the valves; it contracts to open or close them quickly.

kidney click to hear : kidney

Organ secreting urine; it eliminates toxic substances from the body.

heart click to hear : heart

Muscular organ helping blood to circulate.

digestive gland click to hear : digestive gland

Organ producing a secretion that contributes to digestion.

stomach click to hear : stomach

Dilated section of the digestive tract preceding the intestine; it receives food to be digested.

anterior adductor muscle click to hear : anterior adductor muscle

Muscle attached to both inside surfaces of the valves that contracts to open or close them quickly; it is less powerful than the posterior abductor muscle.

labial palp click to hear : labial palp

Mouthpart that grasps food particles deposited on the gills and carries them to the mouth.

mouth click to hear : mouth

Anterior cavity of the digestive tract surrounded by four labial palps, which enable food particles to enter.

gonad click to hear : gonad

Genital gland producing spermatozoa (sperm) or ova (eggs), depending on the sex of the mollusk.

gills click to hear : gills

Respiratory organs located between the foot and the mantle, formed of two layers of ciliated filaments, which filter water and retain food particles.