SPIDER SPINNING SYSTEM

Nephila clavipes has 3 pairs of spinnerets called anterior laterals, posterior laterals and posterior medians, and can spin seven different types of silk made from different silk glands. The dragline silk is secreted by the major ampullate glands, exits from spigots (Figure 1) on the anterior lateral spinnerets (Figure 2). While the other glands produce silk for a variety of uses, the silk of the major ampullate glands has been best studied because of legendary physical attributes and the possibility of a terrific biomimetic model.

Figure 1. Single spider spinneret showing its internal anatomy (J.M. Palmer)

Figure 2. Dragline being silked from anterior lateral spinnerets