Digestive system
Figure 6. Dorsal view of the prosobranch gut,
showing the results of torsion.
Adapted from Ruppert et al., 2004
Digestive systems of gastropods are highly diverse due to their feeding habits having radiated to employ almost all modes. However, there are some characteristics that are still found in almost all or all of the gastropod families. They are (Ruppert, 2004):
- The gastropod gut includes the mouth, buccal cavity, esophagus, stomach, intestine, rectum and anus.
- Feeding usually employs the use of the radula.
- Extracellular digestion is at least partially used.
- Enzymes produced by the esophageal pouches, salivary glands and digestive ceca or sometimes in combination are used for extracellular digestion with some exceptions.
- If intracellular digestion takes place, it occurs within the digestive ceca while in extracellular digestion, it occurs within the stomach, with the digestive ceca responsible for absorption.
- The esophagus enters the stomach posteriorly while the intestine exits anteriorly as a result of torsion.
|