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Torsion in Gastropods
Torsion in Gastropods
Introduction
All living molluscs show bilateral symmetry with mantle cavity lying posteriorly or
laterally.
Molluscs of class Gastropoda have asymmetrical body with anterior mantle
cavity, spirally coiled shell and posterior visceral mass.
This peculiar feature of symmetrical body becoming asymmetrical during
development by twisting of visceral mass is called "torsion".
This twisting occurs in visceral and pallial complexes both, anticlockwise in
direction from its initial position through 180º.
- Torsion is rotation of visceral mass, mantle and shell through 180º with respect to
head and foot while coiling refers to coiling of shells of many univalve and bivalve
molluscs.
coiling is dextral-----clockwise
sinistral------ anticlockwise
Site of torsion
Neck
Oesophagus
Rectum
Aorta
Visceral nerve loop
Muscles of shell
Head and foot of gastropod remains fixed
o Body symmetrical
o Mantle cavity faces backwards and downwards
o Alimentary canal is straight and situated in middle line of body. Anus is posterior.
o Shell and visceral mass saucer shaped
o 2 auricles placed behind the ventricle in heart
o Nervous system bilaterally symmetrical
(POPULAR VIEW)
First stage
1. Velar of foot muscles develop which are not symmetrical. They run from velar lobes
to shell.
2. These muscles have one end attached to left side of the shell and other end to left
side of head and foot
4. This process is very fast and takes only a few minutes to a few hours
Second stage
1. After first stage that is twisting upto 90º roughly transformation of second stage
occurs in larva
2. Tissues of left hand side of larva grows while tissues of right hand side does not. This
is called 'differential growth of tissues'.
3. This stage is slow and rotates the visceral mass and mantle further by nearly 90º
Thomson's view
1. Before torsion, larva is an easy prey for enemies as foot retracts first and head
and velum after it. After torsion, foot retracts in end and head and velum first.
2. After torsion, operculum sealed the aperture tightly, so that larva could fall to
bottom to avoid enemies.
3. After torsion, bulk of mass remained near the ground so the body became stable
4. Anterior opening of the mantle cavity allows clean water to enter from the front of
the snail to mantle cavity, rather than risking contamination of silt stirred up by
the snail's crawling.
5. The twist on the mantle's sensory organs around the head is a significant
advantage because it makes the snail more sensitive to stimuli coming from the
direction in which it moves.
6. Exchanging O2 and CO2 i.e., respiration became better after torsion. Before the
torsion when animal moved upstream current due to flow of water A and current
due to movement of animal B were in same direction.