Hinge line explained
A hinge line is an imaginary longitudinal line along the dorsal edge of the shell of a bivalve mollusk where the two valves hinge or articulate. The hinge line can easily be perceived in these images of a mussel shell and an ark shell.[1] [2] [3]
The hinge teeth, structures which control the articulation of the valves, are often but not always situated along the hinge line.
References
- Web site: Bivalvia Morphology . https://web.archive.org/web/20200129012821/http://paleo.cortland.edu/tutorial/Bivalves/bivalvemorph.htm . 2020-01-29.
- Web site: Bivalves . 2012-11-13 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130511085317/http://www.shellmuseum.org/BivalvesLeal.pdf . 2013-05-11 . J.H. Leal . www.shellmuseum.org.
- Web site: Invertebrate Paleobiology on-line syllabus on Bivalves. Burt . Carter . Georgia Southwestern State University . https://web.archive.org/web/20200225231137/http://itc.gsw.edu/faculty/bcarter/paleo/labs/moll/biv2.htm . 2020-02-25.