Integrated Marine Information System (IMIS)

Data Policy
Persons | Institutes | Publications | Projects | Datasets
[ report an error in this record ]basket (0): add | show Print this page
Structure, composition and mechanical relations to function in sea urchin spine
Moureaux, C.; Pérez-Huerta, A.; Compère, P.; Zhu, W.; Leloup, T.; Cusack, M.; Dubois, P. (2010). Structure, composition and mechanical relations to function in sea urchin spine. J. Struct. Biol. 170(1): 41-49. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jsb.2010.01.003
In: Journal of structural biology. ACADEMIC PRESS INC ELSEVIER SCIENCE: San Diego, Calif.. ISSN 1047-8477; e-ISSN 1095-8657
Peer reviewed article  
Available in  Authors 
Keywords
    Paracentrotus lividus (Lamarck, 1816) [WoRMS]
    Marine/Coastal
Author keywords
    Sea urchin; Spine; Anisotropy; Single crystal; Magnesium; Mechanical properties
Authors  Top 
  • Moureaux, C.
  • Pérez-Huerta, A.
  • Compère, P.
  • Zhu, W.
  • Leloup, T.
  • Cusack, M.
  • Dubois, P.
Abstract
    Sea urchins have characteristic spines that fulfil critical functions. Several studies revealed marked spine internal heterogeneities at different structural levels despite the single-crystal character of the spines. Most of these studies did not speculate about the functional meaning of these heterogeneities. Spine heterogeneities were investigated in the sea urchin Paracentrotuslividus and their possible functional implications discussed. Spines mainly show two morphological parts: the base, made of a meshwork stereom, and the shaft, with longitudinal plain septa and a central core of meshwork stereom. Electron Backscatter Diffraction showed no difference in crystallite orientation between the two structures. Atomic Absorption Spectrometry and Energy dispersive X-ray analysis revealed that Mg was not uniformly distributed in the spine. Mg concentration is higher in the inner part of the septa than in the septum outer part. Furthermore, a cyclic pattern of Mg concentration in septa was observed. This is suggested to be linked to the spine ontogeny. Nano- and microindentation analyses revealed that the septa have higher stiffness and hardness than the meshwork stereom and that septum stiffness and hardness present different trends in longitudinal and transverse section. These mechanical heterogeneities may have an adaptive functional value.
All data in the Integrated Marine Information System (IMIS) is subject to the VLIZ privacy policy Top | Authors 
[Back]

WoRMS

Using WoRMS

Tools

Connect with us

This service is powered by LifeWatch Belgium
Learn more»
Website and databases developed and hosted by Flanders Marine Institute · Page generated on 2025-04-07 00:25:32+02:00 · Privacy and cookie policy