Oyster Anatomy: Glossary

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Artifacts: Physical evidence remaining from the presence of other organisms.

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Abiotic: All non-living factors within an environment, including physical, chemical, and temporal (time) components.
Also see biotic.

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Adductor Muscle: A prominent organ situated in the posterior region of the oyster body, consisting of an anterior translucent part and a smaller, white crescent-shaped region. It functions to close the oyster shells (relaxation of the adductor muscle allows the shells to gape open).

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Anus: The opening of the rectum into the cloacal chamber.

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Bacteria: Diverse group of organisms composed of a single prokaryotic cell without a nucleus or membrane bound organelles whose most important biological roles are decomposition, nitrogen fixation, and disease agents.

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Biotic: All living factors within an environment.
Also see abiotic.

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Bivalve: Marine or freshwater mollusk that has two shells.

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Cilia: Hair-like structures used for motility in some protozoans and for the movement of particles or fluids in certain cells of more advanced organisms.

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Cloacal Chamber: A chamber which passes excess water and waste from the oyster into the environment. In addition, it houses the adductor muscle and rectum.

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Commensal Organisms: Organisms that rely on a host for a benefit but does not harm or benefit the host (i.e., an oyster bar provides protection for crabs and a hard substrate for barnacle settlement).

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Diatoms: Major phytoplankton group whose organisms are enclosed within a secreted shell of silicon.

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Digestive Gland: The gland responsible for the production of digestive enzymes.

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Eggs: Haploid gametes produced by females.
Also see sperm.

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Epibranchial Chambers: A chamber that is formed by the fusion of the mantle and visceral mass and the base of the gills and houses the gills, mouth and labial palps.

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Esophagus: Tube that connects the mouth with the stomach.

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Gills: The gills are the largest organ in the oysters body and consists of four folds of tissue. Along with the mantle it is the chief organ of respiration. They create water currents, collect food particles, and move food particles to the labial palps for further sorting. Also serve to separate masses of eggs released from the ovary during spawning into individual ova for efficient fertilization.

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Hermaphroditic: An organism that possesses physiologically functioning male and female reproductive organs.

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Hinge: The area formed by the joined valves at the anterior of the oyster.

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Intestine: Organ used for the transport of undigested material and transport of nutrients.

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Labial Palps: Consist of two pairs of large, soft flaps that have a roughly triangular shape and have a smooth surface and a rough surface. These specialized organs are known to control the total amount of food ingested, but may also sort food before ingestion, perhaps on the basis of particle size or chemical composition.

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Mantle: Two fleshy folds of tissue that cover the internal organs of the oyster and are always in contact with the shells but not attached to them. Its principal role is the formation of the shells and the secretion of the ligament as well as playing a part in other biological functions (i.e., sensory reception, egg dispersal, respiration, reserve stores, and excretion).

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Mollusk: Organisms in the phylum Mollusca - invertebrate animals with soft unsegmented bodies usually enclosed in a calcareous shell.

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Mouth: The inverted U-shaped slit located between the inner and outer labial palps.

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Omnivorous: Organisms that consume a variety of plant and animal materials.

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Parasitic Organisms: Organisms that rely on a host for resources and as a result are harmful.

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Pericardial Cavity: Cavity containing the heart.

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Phytoplankton: Diverse group of minute plants that drift freely within the water column.

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Protandrous Hermaphrodites: The development of maleness before the female phase with the ability to change sex throughout their life cycle.

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Protozoans: Single celled eukaryotic organisms belonging to the kingdom Protista.

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Psudeofeces: Particles which are not sorted as food and are rejected through the mouth.

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Rectum: Organ that is the continuation of the intestine; it runs dorsally over the adductor muscle and ends in the anus, and aborbs water while consolidating feces.

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