Mollusca: Respiration

Respiration is through gills called ctenidia (sing. ctenidium), located in the mantle cavity (the space between the mantle and the body wall proper) and varies with the species and with the type of habitat. For example, intertidal marine mollusks are exposed to air and water alternately and must be able to respire in both conditions; terrestrial species have lost their ctenidia, replacing them with lungs that can function in both water and air. Excretion of wastes is through structures called metanephridia and through the body and gill surfaces.

Sections in this article:

• Introduction
• Class Cephalopoda
• Class Scaphopoda
• Class Bivalvia
• Class Gastropoda
• Class Monoplacophora
• Class Polyplacophora
• Class Aplacophora
• Reproduction
• Circulatory and Nervous Systems
• Respiration
• The Digestive Tract
• The Shell
• The Body Wall
• Anatomical Features

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