Oysters are bivalves, which is the name for a number of marine and freshwater mollusks that have long, flat bodies made up of a shell consisting of two hinged parts. Oysters use their gills and cilia to process water and feed. Oysters have a small heart and internal organs, but no central nervous system.

First, we will examine the basic anterior and posterior anatomy, focusing on the shell’s external features and their roles. Next, we’ll explore the digestive system, highlighting how oysters process and absorb nutrients from their environment.

Discover all the parts of an oyster's anatomy. Oysters will no longer hold any secrets for you! They have gills, a heart, but on the other hand, no head. The oyster is a hermaphroditic animal.

Students will investigate the anatomy and morphology of an eastern oyster through observation and dissection. Dissect an oyster. Observe structures of oyster's anatomy and make inferences. Sketch the oyster and accurately label it. Identify major body parts and structures of the oyster.

Oyster Ecology • Lives on surface of sediments • Sessile - stays in one place • Forms reefs - intertidal and subtidal • “Foundation” or “keystone” species • Provides habitat for many species by creating hard substrate for attachment and refuge •

Delving into the “anatomy of an oyster” reveals a complex structure, finely tuned to its aquatic environment. This blog post will explore the various facets of oyster anatomy, from its sturdy shell to its intricate internal systems.

Locate the following parts of the oyster anatomy on the diagram and on your specimen. Write a brief description of each part to help you identify the anatomical features of an oyster. When you are done, try to determine the function of each body part.

Figure 1. Oyster in left valve showing cardinal axes and digestive system including labial palps and gills. Redrawn from Galtsoff (1964).

get inside everything will be backwards from your diagrams! Oysters come in many shapes. No two oysters look exactly alike. But most have a narrow end called the umbo and a wide end called the bill. Turn your oyster so that the umbo points away from you, like in the picture. An oyster has TWO shells, called valves. It rests with the

The dorsal and ventral sides of the oyster are determined by the internal anatomy. The dorsal side of the oyster is on your left, which is the location of the rectum and anus. The ventral side of the oyster is on your right, which is the location of the gills and mouth.