1. respiratory organs in mollusks consisting of feathery or comb-like gills
Usage: biology; plural form

Examples

• The bivalve’s ctenidia filter oxygen from the water.
• Marine biologists studied the ctenidia structure in various mollusk species.
• The ctenidia appeared as delicate, feathery projections in the specimen.
• Damage to the ctenidia can severely impact a mollusk’s ability to breathe.
• The ctenidia also help filter food particles from the water.