Names:___________________________

Chloe Simmons

Clam Dissection
Introduction
The phylum Mollusca includes snails, clams, chitons, slugs, limpets, octopi, and squid. As mollusks develop
from a fertilized egg to an adult, most pass through a larval stage called the trocophore. The trocophore is a
ciliated, free-swimming stage. The body structure of Mollusks includes a radula or file-like organ for feeding,
a mantle that may secrete a shell, and a muscular foot for locomotion.

More than 15,000 species of bivalves exist. All bivalves are aquatic, including both marine and fresh-water
species. The name "bivalve" refers to the two-part shell that typifies these mollusk species. The two halves of
the shell are joined by a ligamentous hinge and held shut by two strong adductor muscles.

Most bivalves are filter feeders. Currents of water are drawn into the body and through the gills, where tiny
food particles are caught in the gill mucus. This flow of water also functions in respiration, allowing organisms
to obtain fresh oxygen through the siphon or neck. The siphon is also used to disperse eggs or sperm. A few
bivalve species are predatory, including some deep-sea scallops.

Clams are marine mollusks with two valves or shells. Like all mollusks, a clam has a mantle, which surrounds
its soft body. It also has a muscular foot, which enables the clam to burrow itself in mud or sand. Bivalves have
an open circulatory system. The soft tissue above the foot is called the visceral mass and contains the clam's
body organs.
Objective
To study the internal and external anatomy of a bivalve mollusk.

Pre-lab:
1. Give the kingdom, phylum, and class for the clam.
Kingdom: Anamilia Class: Bivalvia
Phylum: Mollusca

2. Describe the body structure of bivalves.

Bivalve mollusks fare completel enclosed by a shell made of two valves hinged at the top. A hnge ligament made of elastic protein
joins the two halves of the shell together, and a large adductor muscles between the two valves hold them closed.

3. How do bivalves move?

Some bivalves have a retractable "foot" that protrudes from the shell and digs into the surrounding sediment, effectively enable to
creature to move and burrow.

4. Why are they called bivalves?

They have two shells the protect its soft inner body parts.

5. Is their digestive tract complete or incomplete? Explain your answer.

Imcomplete because they have one opening that is ther mouth and anus.

Materials
Dissecting pan, dissecting tools, lab apron, plastic gloves, safety glasses, preserved clam

Procedure

1. Put on your lab apron, safety glasses, and plastic gloves.

2. Place a clam in a dissecting tray and identify the anterior and posterior ends of the clam as well as the
dorsal, ventral, & lateral surfaces. Figure 1

Figure 1

3. Locate the umbo, the bump at the anterior end of the valve. This is the oldest part of the clam shell. Find
the hinge ligament which hinges the valves together and observe the growth rings.
4. Turn the clam with its dorsal side down and insert a screwdriver between the ventral edges of the valves.
Carefully work the tip of a cutting tool between the valves so you do not jab your hand.
5. Locate the adductor muscles. With your blade pointing toward the dorsal edge, slide your scalpel
between the upper valve & the top tissue layer. Cut down through the anterior adductor muscle,
cutting as close to the shell as possible.

\
7. Repeat step 6 in cutting the posterior adductor muscle. Figure 2

Figure 2

8. Bend the left valve back so it lies flat in the tray.

9. Run your fingers along the outside and the inside of the left valve and compare the texture of the two
surfaces.

10. Examine the inner dorsal edges of both valves near the umbo and locate the toothlike projections.
Close the valves & notice how the toothlike projections interlock.
11. Locate the muscle "scars" on the inner surface of the left valve. The adductor muscles were attached
here to hold the clam closed.
12. Identify the mantle, the tissue that lines both valves & covers the soft body of the clam. Find the mantle
cavity, the space inside the mantle.
13. Locate two openings on the posterior end of the clam. The more ventral opening is the incurrent siphon
that carries water into the clam and the more dorsal opening is the excurrent siphon where wastes &
water leave.

14. With scissors, carefully cut away the half of the mantle that lined the left valve. After removing this
part of the mantle, you can see the gills, respiratory structures.
15. Observe the muscular foot of the clam, which is ventral to the gills. Note the hatchet shape of the foot
used to burrow into mud or sand.

16. Locate the palps, flaplike structures that surround & guide food into the clam's mouth. The palps are
anterior to the gills & ventral to the anterior adductor muscle. Beneath the palps, find the mouth.

Figure 3

17. With scissors, cut off the ventral portion of the foot. Use the scalpel to carefully cut the muscle at the
top of the foot into right and left halves.
18. Carefully peel away the muscle layer to view the internal organs.
 19. Locate the spongy, yellowish reproductive organs.
20. Ventral to the umbo, find the digestive gland, a greenish structure that surrounds the stomach.
21. Locate the long, coiled intestine extending from the stomach.
22. Follow the intestine through the calm. Find the area near the dorsal surface that the intestine passes
through called the pericardial area. Find the clam's heart in this area.

23. Continue following the intestine toward the posterior end of the clam. Find the anus just behind the
posterior adductor muscle.
24. Use your probe to trace the path of food & wastes from the incurrent siphon through the clam to the
excurrent siphon.

Lab Questions:
1. What is the oldest part of a clam's shell called and how can it be located?
The Umbo is the oldest part and it is the coiled up hump like structure with the tight rings.

2. What do the rings on the clam's shell indicate?

The rings indicate how old the clam is; meaning the older the clam the more rings.

3. Name the clam's siphons and their direction of water flow.

Excurrent and Incurrent. Incurrent is bringing the food in and ecurrent puts it out.

4. What holds the two shells together?

The hinge ligaments hold it together.

5. What muscles open & close the clam?

The Adductor muscles open and close the clam.
6. What is the function of the tooth-like projections at the dorsal edge of the clam?
- help the valves align properly while closing
- make sure the shell has a tight seal of protectiong
- scrape materials
7. Where is the mantle located in the clam? What is its function?
Midway on the anterior surfae of the shell. It can be seen at te edge where the halves
open. It secretes the shell and also is a respitory organ.

8. How do clams breathe?

2 pairs o feathery gills for respiration(gas exchange) as oxygen diffuses into the gills.

9. What helps direct water over the gills?

Incurrent siphon and excurrent siphon.

11. Where is the clam's heart located?

By the hinge.

12. Why are clam's referred to as "filter feeders"?

They filter plankton out of the wayer and trap it and direct it to their digestive tracts.

13. Do bivalves show cephalization? Explain your answer.

No becuase they do not have a head meaning they have no brain.

14. What are siphons & what is their purpose?

Siphons are where water enters and exuts the clam. It is ther to aid with location, feeding, repiration, and reproduction.

15.Label the following diagram:

Heart
Shell
Kidney
heart
Palps
adductor muscle
mouth
Anus
adductor muscle
exhalant siphon
stomch
inhalant siphon
intestine
Gill
gonad
hinge
foot
mantle