Hypobranchial gland
The hypobranchial gland is a glandular structure which is part of the anatomy of many mollusks, including several different families of gastropods, and also many protobranch bivalves.[1] This gland produces mucus as well as biologically active compounds. The cephalopod ink sac is a modified hypobranchial gland.[2]
Anatomy and function[]
- Gastropods
The hypobranchial gland is found in many sea snails, including those in the families Haliotidae, Buccinidae, Mitridae and Costellariidae. It usually presents itself as a thickening of the tissue located in the roof of the animal's mantle cavity.[3] Its morphology, however, is variable between different groups of snails.
- Aculifera
In the aculifera the hypobranchial glands are referred to as "mucus tracts" and occupy a posterior position in the body.
Human use[]
There have been studies on some species within the family Muricidae, because in those species this gland secretes the precursor to the historically important natural dye, Tyrian purple.
References[]
- ^ Fretter & Graham, 1962, p. 88
- ^ Nair, J.R., D. Pillai, S.M. Joseph, P. Gomathi, P.V. Senan & P.M. Sherief (2011). "Cephalopod research and bioactive substances" (PDF). Indian Journal of Geo-Marine Sciences 40(1): 13–27.
- ^ Pontarotti, 2010, p.260
Literature cited[]
- Fretter, V. & Graham, A. 1962. British Prosobranch Molluscs. 1st ed. London: The Ray Society, 755 pp.
- Westley, C., Lewis, M. C. and Benkendorff, K. 2010. Histomorphology of the hypobranchial gland in Dicanthais orbita (Gmelin, 1791) (Neogastropoda: Muricidae). Journal of Molluscan Studies 76(2): 186–195.
- The hypobranchial gland from the purple snail Plicopurpura pansa (Gould, 1853) (Prosobranchia: Murididae). , August 1, 2006 [1]
- Pontarotti, P. 2010. Evolutionary Biology: Concepts, Molecular and Morphological Evolution [2]. Springer, 363 pp.
- Mollusc anatomy