Spinneret

Spinneret

A spinneret is a spider's silk-spinning organ. It is usually on the underside of a spider's abdomen, to the rear. Most spiders have six spinnerets; some have four or two. They move independently and in concert to build webs.

The discovery of spinnerets on the feet of the "Aphonopelma seemanni" has led to questions about the origins of spinnerets. It has been hypothesised that spinnerets were originally used as climbing aids on the feet and evolved for webmaking at a later time. [cite journal | first = SN | last = Gorb | coauthors = Niederegger S, Hayashi CY, Summers AP, Votsch W, Walther P | year = 2006 | month = Sep 28 | title = Biomaterials: silk-like secretion from tarantula feet | journal = Nature | volume = 443 | issue = 7110 | pages = 407 | pmid = 17006505 | accessdate = 2006-10-23 | doi = 10.1038/443407a]

Other uses of the word

Spinneret also refers to a multi-pored device through which a plastic polymer melt is extruded to form fibers. Streams of viscous polymer usually exit into cool air or liquid to solidify. [ [http://www.fibersource.com/f-tutor/techpag.htm Fibersource.com] ] The individual polymer chains tend to align in the fiber because of viscous flow. This airstream liquid-to-fiber formation process is similar to the production process for cotton candy. The process may be referred to as Gel spinning or Polymer spinning. [UHMWPE]

External links

* [http://www.astrographics.com/GalleryPrintsIndex/GP2017.html Electron microsope image of spider spinnerets]
* [http://www.fibersource.com/f-tutor/techpag.htm Pictures of industrial spinnerets and description of polymer spinning]

References


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Spinneret — Spin ner*et, n. (Zo[ o]l.) One of the special jointed organs situated on the under side, and near the end, of the abdomen of spiders, by means of which they spin their webs. Most spiders have three pairs of spinnerets, but some have only two… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • spinneret — silk spinning organ of a silkworm or spider, coined 1826, dim. of SPINNER (Cf. spinner) …   Etymology dictionary

  • spinneret — [spin΄ə ret′] n. [dim. of SPINNER] 1. the organ in spiders, caterpillars, etc., that spins thread for webs or cocoons 2. a thimblelike device or metal plate with tiny holes through which a solution is forced in the making of synthetic fibers …   English World dictionary

  • spinneret — /spin euh ret , spin euh ret /, n. 1. an organ or part by means of which a spider, insect larva, or the like spins a silky thread for its web or cocoon. 2. a metal plate or cup with tiny holes through which a chemical solution is extruded to form …   Universalium

  • Spinneret (Timothy Zahn) — Infobox Book | name = Spinneret title orig = translator = image caption = author = Timothy Zahn country = United States language = English series = genre = Science fiction novel publisher = Baen release date = 1985 Spinneret is a science fiction… …   Wikipedia

  • spinneret — noun Date: 1826 1. an organ (as of a spider or caterpillar) for producing threads of silk from the secretion of silk glands 2. (or spinnerette) a small metal plate, thimble, or cap with fine holes through which a chemical solution (as of… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • spinneret — n. [A.S. spinnan, to spin] 1. (ARTHROPODA: Chelicerata) In spiders, three pairs of glands at the subcaudal end of the abdomen, covered with minute tubes; see fusula sericose. 2. (ARTHROPODA: Insecta) An external apparatus from which silk exudes… …   Dictionary of invertebrate zoology

  • spinneret — noun The organ a spider uses to spin its web. See Also: spinnerette, spinnerule …   Wiktionary

  • spinneret — (Class Ostracoda): Gland, located in forehead and opening to exterior via seta like exopod of antenna. Secretes thread like material used in locomotion [Stachowitsch, 1992] …   Crustacea glossary

  • spinneret —    One of organs perforated by tubes connected with glands secreting liquid silk, in spider. A metal plate pierced with holes through which filaments of plastic material are forced, as in the making of rayon fibers …   Forensic science glossary

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