ligament
A B C D E F G H I J L M N O P Q R S T U V W

A band of fibres in the hinge which react against the pull of the adductor muscles and open the shell by forcing the valves apart; either external (a tensilium) or internal (a resilium) in a pit or chondrophore (a resilifer).

cardinal_area.jpg

cardinal_area.jpg

hinge.jpg

hinge.jpg

lithodesma.jpg

lithodesma.jpg