TORSION IN GASTROPODS

Torsion is a process in which the viscero-pallium rotates anti-clockwise through 180°

from its initial position during larval development. So that the mantle cavity, with its
pallial complex, is brought to the front of the body in the adult.

Introduction

 All living molluscs show bilateral symmetry with mantle cavity lying posteriorly or
laterally.
 Molluscs of class Gastropoda have asymmetrical body with anterior mantle
cavity, spirally coiled shell and posterior visceral mass.
 This peculiar feature of symmetrical body becoming asymmetrical during
development by twisting of visceral mass is called "torsion".
 This twisting occurs in visceral and pallial complexes both, anticlockwise in
direction from its initial position through 180º.

Difference between torsion and coiling

- Torsion is rotation of visceral mass, mantle and shell through 180º with respect to
head and foot while coiling refers to coiling of shells of many univalve and bivalve
molluscs.

- Torsion is seen in gastropods while coiling is observed in almost all molluscs.

 coiling is dextral-----clockwise
 sinistral------ anticlockwise

Site of torsion

 Neck
 Oesophagus
 Rectum
 Aorta
 Visceral nerve loop
 Muscles of shell
 Head and foot of gastropod remains fixed

Larva before torsion

o Body symmetrical
o Mantle cavity faces backwards and downwards
o Alimentary canal is straight and situated in middle line of body. Anus is posterior.
 o Shell and visceral mass saucer shaped
o 2 auricles placed behind the ventricle in heart
o Nervous system bilaterally symmetrical

Two different developmental stages leading to torsion

(POPULAR VIEW)

First stage

1. Velar of foot muscles develop which are not symmetrical. They run from velar lobes
to shell.

2. These muscles have one end attached to left side of the shell and other end to left
side of head and foot

3. During development, at a certain point, this muscle contracts causes anticlockwise

rotation of visceral mass and mantle upto 90º roughly

4. This process is very fast and takes only a few minutes to a few hours

Second stage

1. After first stage that is twisting upto 90º roughly transformation of second stage
occurs in larva

2. Tissues of left hand side of larva grows while tissues of right hand side does not. This
is called 'differential growth of tissues'.

3. This stage is slow and rotates the visceral mass and mantle further by nearly 90º

4. As a result 180º rotation/ torsion is completed

Thomson's view

Thomson described 5 ways by which torsion can be brought about:

1. In Archaeogastropods, the Acmaea, the torsion (complete 180º rotation) takes

place by muscles contraction alone.
2. The rotation of 180° is completed in two stages, the first movement takes place
by the contraction of larval retractor muscle and second rotation is slower by
differential growth. It is very common as in Patella, Haliotis etc.
3. The rotation of 180° takes place by only differential growth processes
like Vivapara.
 4. Rotation by differential growth processes, with anus coming to a position
appropriate to the adult state like Aplysia.
5. Torsion is no longer recognizable as a movement of viscera-pallium,
the organs in the post-torsional position from their first appearance as in Adalaria
(In other words, organs may be present in positions after torsion from the time
they are formed so torsion is not recognizable)

Significance and advantages of torsion

1. Before torsion, larva is an easy prey for enemies as foot retracts first and head
and velum after it. After torsion, foot retracts in end and head and velum first.
2. After torsion, operculum sealed the aperture tightly, so that larva could fall to
bottom to avoid enemies.
3. After torsion, bulk of mass remained near the ground so the body became stable
4. Anterior opening of the mantle cavity allows clean water to enter from the front of
the snail to mantle cavity, rather than risking contamination of silt stirred up by
the snail's crawling. 
5. The twist on the mantle's sensory organs around the head is a significant
advantage because it makes the snail more sensitive to stimuli coming from the
direction in which it moves.
6. Exchanging O2 and CO2 i.e., respiration became better after torsion. Before the
torsion when animal moved upstream current due to flow of water A and current
due to movement of animal B were in same direction.