Species: Mussels
All water entering the mussel goes to the gills. They are the sorting station of the mussel and distinguish between food particles and waste. This process is known as filter feeding (like in spongebob). They filter the water and consume anything edible. Any excretory waste produced is first filtered by the kidney and then exits the mussel via the siphon. The gills also gather oxygen molecules for respiration and transportation to the vessels and aorta. Even though mussels have an open circulatory system, they do not have blood with hemoglobin, but a liquid called hemolymph. Also, no space is left unfilled in the body plan of the mussels. All an open circulatory system does is pump blood using a heart, into body cavities where tissues become surrounded by the blood. Mussels have a three chambered heart.
Here's an interesting video that shows where the heart is in a mussel. Next time you eat them be aware...
All water entering the mussel goes to the gills. They are the sorting station of the mussel and distinguish between food particles and waste. This process is known as filter feeding (like in spongebob). They filter the water and consume anything edible. Any excretory waste produced is first filtered by the kidney and then exits the mussel via the siphon. The gills also gather oxygen molecules for respiration and transportation to the vessels and aorta. Even though mussels have an open circulatory system, they do not have blood with hemoglobin, but a liquid called hemolymph. Also, no space is left unfilled in the body plan of the mussels. All an open circulatory system does is pump blood using a heart, into body cavities where tissues become surrounded by the blood. Mussels have a three chambered heart.
Here's an interesting video that shows where the heart is in a mussel. Next time you eat them be aware...