Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
🩺 Untwisting a body part 🐌 Untwisting in snails
detorsion

detorsion

9.9
An evolutionary change in some snails where the body untwists to a more even shape
  • noun
  • /dɪˈtɔrʃən/
  • Specialized
: detorsión
  • During embryonic development, some gastropods undergo detorsion to achieve a less twisted body plan.

Examples

  • The process of detorsion can help explain the evolutionary changes in gastropod anatomy.

  • Scientists observed detorsion in certain snail species as they developed a more balanced body structure.

  • The detorsion of the shell is vital for the gastropod's development.

  • During detorsion, the body gradually returns to a symmetrical shape.

  • Scientists observed detorsion in certain snail species as they developed a more balanced body structure.

  • During embryonic development, some gastropods undergo detorsion to achieve a less twisted body plan.

  • During detorsion, the body gradually returns to a symmetrical shape.

Surface Forms

detorsion singular
detorsions plural

Morphology

detorsion = torsion (semi-transparent) = de + torsion

Formed by productive prefix 'de-' (reverse) + 'torsion', but the term is specialized (biological/medical), so inferring precise meaning requires domain knowledge.

Etymology

Detorsion comes from the Latin parts de- meaning 'undo' and torsion meaning 'a twist', from the same root as torque. So in snails, detorsion is the body 'untwisting' back toward a more even, balanced shape.