Suprapedal gland
The suprapedal gland or mucous pedal gland is an anatomical feature found in some
gastropods.[1]
The term suprapedal means "above the foot".
The function of this gland is to produce mucus. The gland opens on the front end of the sole, 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 in moving.[1]
There are
mucopolysaccharides.[2] For example, the land slug Leidyula floridana has gland cells in the suprapedal gland which produce weakly acidic mucopolysaccharides, neutral mucopolysaccharides and a protein.[3]
References
- ^ ISBN 0-85199-318-4. 1-146, cited page: page 12.
- ^ Shirbhate R. & Cook A. (1987). "Pedal and opercular secretory glands of Pomatias, Bithynia and Littorina". Journal of Molluscan Studies 53(1): 79-96. (abstract)
Further reading
- Barr R. A. (1926) "Memoirs: Some Observations on the Pedal Gland of
- Barr R. A. (1927) "Some notes on the mucous and skin glands of Quarterly Journal of Microscopical Science 71: 503–525. PDF
- Borda V., Ramírez R. & Romero P. (2010). "Glándula pediosa de moluscos terrestres y sus implicancias evolutivas, con énfasis en Megalobulimus / Pediose gland in land snails and its evolutionary implications, with emphasis on Megalobulimus." Revista Peruana de Biología 17(1): . 43–52. PDF.
- (April 1972) Biol. Bull. 142: 335–349. (abstract)
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