nidamental gland

{{short description|Organs that participate in egg material production}}

Image:Chtenopteryx sicula2.jpg, showing the presence of the nidamental glands and accessory nidamental glands.]]

Nidamental glands are internal organs found in some elasmobranchs and certain molluscs, including cephalopods (specifically Decapodiformes and nautiluses) and gastropods.Young, R.E., M. Vecchione & K.M. Mangold (1999). [http://tolweb.org/accessory/Cephalopoda_Glossary?acc_id=587 Cephalopoda Glossary]. Tree of Life Web Project.{{cite journal |author=Prasad, R.R. |title=Observations on the Nidamental Glands of Hydrolagus colliei, Raja rhina and Platyrhinoidis triseriatus |journal=Copeia |volume=1948 |issue=1 |pages=54–7 |year=1948 |doi=10.2307/1438791 |jstor=1438791}}{{cite journal |author=Bloodgood RA |title=The squid accessory nidamental gland: ultrastructure and association with bacteria |journal=Tissue Cell |volume=9 |issue=2 |pages=197–208 |year=1977 |pmid=906013 |doi=10.1016/0040-8166(77)90016-7}}

In cephalopods, nidamental glands are large, paired glandular structures found in the mantle cavity.{{cite journal|url= https://nopr.niscpr.res.in/bitstream/123456789/11363/1/IJMS%2040(1)%2013-27.pdf|title=Cephalopod research and bioactive substances|last1=Nair|first1=J.R.|first2=D.|last2=Pillai|first3=S.M.|last3=Joseph|first4=P.|last4=Gomathi|first5=P.V.|last5=Senan|first6=P.M.|last6=Sherief|year=2011|journal=Indian Journal of Geo-Marine Sciences|volume=40|issue=1|pages=13–27|s2cid=30894836|access-date=27 January 2025}} Accessory nidamental glands may also be present. Nidamental glands are composed of lamellae and are involved in the secretion of egg cases or the gelatinous substance comprising egg masses.

They are also found in phoronids.{{cite journal|doi=10.1111/j.1439-0469.1985.tb00581.x|title=Phylogenetic systematics in Phoronida (Lophophorata)|year=2009|last1=Emig|first1=C. C.|journal=Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research|volume=23|issue=3|pages=184–193}}