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Adhesion in the marine mussel Mytilus californianus. (a) Adult mussel (5 cm length) displaying an extensive byssus attached to a mica surface. (b) Schematic mussel on a half-shell. Each byssus is a bundle of threads tipped with adhesive plaques. The threads are joined at the stem, which inserts into the base of the foot. Byssal tension is controlled by 12 byssal retractor muscles, 6 per valve. The two adductor muscles open and close the valves.
