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Radula
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==Components== A typical radula comprises a number of [[bilateral symmetry|bilaterally-symmetrical]] self-similar rows of teeth rooted in a radular membrane in the floor of their mouth cavity. Some species have teeth that bend with the membrane as it moves over the odontophore, whereas in other species, the teeth are firmly rooted in place, and the entire radular structure moves as one entity.<ref name="Padilla1985">{{Cite journal | doi = 10.1007/BF00428220 | last1 = Padilla | first1 = D. K. | title = Structural resistance of algae to herbivores | journal = Marine Biology | volume = 90 | pages = 103β109 | year = 1985 | issue = 1 | bibcode = 1985MarBi..90..103P | s2cid = 80717511 }}</ref> ===Radular membrane=== The elastic, delicate radular membrane may be a single tongue, or may split into two (bipartite).<ref name="Scheltema2003a">{{Cite journal | last1 = Scheltema | first1 = A. H. | last2 = Kerth | first2 = K. | last3 = Kuzirian | first3 = A. M. | doi = 10.1002/jmor.10121 | title = Original molluscan radula: Comparisons among Aplacophora, Polyplacophora, Gastropoda, and the Cambrian fossil ''Wiwaxia corrugata''| journal = Journal of Morphology | volume = 257 | issue = 2 | pages = 219β245 | year = 2003 | pmid = 12833382| s2cid = 32940079 }}</ref> ===Hyaline shield=== See [[Hyaline shield]] for more details. ===Odontophore=== The odontophore is the eversible, fleshy tongue underlying the radular membrane. It controls the organ's protrusion and return. It can be likened to a pulley wheel over which the radular 'string' is pulled.<ref name="Guralnick1999">{{Cite journal | doi = 10.1002/(SICI)1097-4687(199908)241:2<175::AID-JMOR7>3.0.CO;2-0 | last1 = Guralnick | first1 = R. | last2 = Smith | first2 = K. | title = Historical and biomechanical analysis of integration and dissociation in molluscan feeding, with special emphasis on the true limpets (Patellogastropoda: Gastropoda) | journal = Journal of Morphology | volume = 241 | issue = 2 | pages = 175β195 | year = 1999 | pmid = 10420163 | s2cid = 14497120 }}</ref> ===Flexibility=== The radular teeth can generally bend in a sideways direction. In the patellogastropods, though, the teeth lost this ability and became fixed.<ref name="Guralnick1999"/> ===Teeth=== The radula comprises multiple, identical (or near-enough) rows of teeth, fine, flat, or spiney out-growths; often, each tooth in a row (along with its symmetric partner) will have a unique morphology. Each tooth can be divided into three sections: a base, a shaft, and a cusp. In radulae that just sweep, rather than rasp, the underlying substrate, the shaft and cusp are often continuous and cannot be differentiated.<ref name="Hickman1980">{{Cite journal | jstor = 2400346 | last1 = Hickman | first1 = C. S. | title = Gastropod Radulae and the Assessment of Form in Evolutionary Paleontology | journal = Paleobiology | volume = 6 | issue = 3 | pages = 276β294 | year = 1980 | doi=10.1017/s0094837300006801| bibcode = 1980Pbio....6..276H | s2cid = 89455588 }}</ref> The teeth often tesselate with their neighbours, and this interlocking serves to make it more difficult to remove them from the radular ribbon.<ref name="Hickman1980"/>
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