Malacology Malacology Malacology is the branch of invertebrate zoology that deals with the study of the Mollusca (mollusks or molluscs), the second-largest phylum of animals in terms of described species after the arthropods. Mollusks include snails and slugs, clams, octopus and squid, and numerous other kinds, many of which have shells. One division of malacology, conchology, is devoted to the study of mollusk shells. Malacology derives from Greek , "malakos", "soft"; and , "-logia". Fields within malacological research include taxonomy, ecology and evolution. Applied malacology studies medical, veterinary, and agricultural applications, for example mollusks as vectors of disease, as in schistosomiasis.
Posterior branches of thoracic nerves Posterior branches of thoracic nerves The posterior branches of thoracic nerves branch from the dorsal rami of the thoracic nerves. The medial branches of the posterior divisions of the "upper six" thoracic nerves run between the semispinalis dorsi and multifidus, which they supply. They then pierce the rhomboidei and trapezius, and reach the skin by the sides of the spinous processes. The medial branches of the "lower six" are distributed chiefly to the multifidus and longissimus, occasionally they give off filaments to the skin near the middle line. The lateral branches increase in size from above downward. They run through