Suprapedal gland
Thesuprapedal glandormucous pedal glandis an anatomical feature found in somesnailsandslugs.It is aglandlocated inside the front end of thefootofgastropods.[1]
The termsuprapedalmeans "above the foot".
The function of this gland is to producemucus.The gland opens on the front end of thesole,on the ventral side of the foot.[1]The mucus produced by this gland becomes a thin layer covering the sole of the foot, and this helps the gastropod inmoving.[1]
There aregland cellsin the suprapedal gland. For example, in the suprapedal gland of the land snailPomatias elegansthere are three types of gland cells: cells producingmucoproteins,cells producingproteinsand cells producing sulphatedmucopolysaccharides.[2]For example, the land slugLeidyula floridanahas gland cells in the suprapedal gland which produce weakly acidic mucopolysaccharides, neutral mucopolysaccharides and a protein.[3]
References
[edit]- ^abcBarker G. M. (2001) "Gastropods on Land: Phylogeny, Diversity and Adaptive Morphology." in Barker G. M. (ed.): "The biology of terrestrial molluscs".CABI Publishing,Oxon, UK,ISBN0-85199-318-4.1-146, cited page: page 12.
- ^Shirbhate R. & Cook A. (1987). "Pedal and opercular secretory glands ofPomatias,BithyniaandLittorina".Journal of Molluscan Studies53(1): 79-96. (abstract)
- ^Cook A. (1986) "Functional aspects of the mucus-producing glands of the Systellommatophoran slug,Veronicella floridana".Journal of Zoology211(2): 291-305.doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1987.tb01535.x
Further reading
[edit]- Barr R. A. (1926) "Memoirs: Some Observations on the Pedal Gland ofMilax".Quarterly Journal of Microscopical Science70(2): 647–667.abstract,PDF
- Barr R. A. (1927) "Some notes on the mucous and skin glands ofArion ater".Quarterly Journal of Microscopical Science71:503–525.PDF
- Borda V., Ramírez R. & Romero P. (2010). "Glándula pediosa de moluscos terrestres y sus implicancias evolutivas, con énfasis enMegalobulimus/ Pediose gland in land snails and its evolutionary implications, with emphasis onMegalobulimus."Revista Peruana de Biología17(1):. 43–52.PDF.
- (April 1972) Biol. Bull. 142: 335–349. (abstract)
 | Thisgastropod-related article is astub.You can help Wikipedia byexpanding it. |