title: Functional morphology of suction discs and attachment performance of the Mediterranean medicinal leech (Hirudo verbana Carena).
abstract: Medicinal leeches use their suction discs for locomotion, adhesion to the host and, in the case of the anterior disc, also for blood ingestion. The biomechanics of their suction-based adhesion systems has been little understood until now. We investigated the functional morphology of the anterior and posterior suckers ofH irudo verbena by using light and scanning electron microscopy. Furthermore, we analysed the adhesion qualitatively and quantitatively by conducting behavioural and mechanical experiments. Our high-speed video analyses provide new insights into the attachment and detachment processes and we present a detailed description of the leech locomotion cycle. Pull-off force measurements of the anterior and posterior suction organs on seven different substrates under both aerial and water-submersed conditions reveal a significant influence of the surrounding medium, the substrate surface roughness and the tested organ on attachment forces and tenacities.
authors.affiliation: Plant Biomechanics Group Freiburg (PBG), Albert-Ludwigs University of Freiburg, Botanic Garden, Freiburg im Breisgau, Schänzlestraße 1, 79104, Germany Freiburg Materials Research Center (FMF), Albert-Ludwigs University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Stefan-Meier-Straße 21, 79104, Germany tim.kampowski@biologie.uni-freiburg.de.
authors.forename: Tim
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3937-4192
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kampowski
authors.affiliation: Plant Biomechanics Group Freiburg (PBG), Albert-Ludwigs University of Freiburg, Botanic Garden, Freiburg im Breisgau, Schänzlestraße 1, 79104, Germany.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Eberhard
authors.affiliation: Plant Biomechanics Group Freiburg (PBG), Albert-Ludwigs University of Freiburg, Botanic Garden, Freiburg im Breisgau, Schänzlestraße 1, 79104, Germany.
authors.forename: Friederike
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gallenmüller
authors.affiliation: Plant Biomechanics Group Freiburg (PBG), Albert-Ludwigs University of Freiburg, Botanic Garden, Freiburg im Breisgau, Schänzlestraße 1, 79104, Germany Freiburg Materials Research Center (FMF), Albert-Ludwigs University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Stefan-Meier-Straße 21, 79104, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Speck
authors.affiliation: Plant Biomechanics Group Freiburg (PBG), Albert-Ludwigs University of Freiburg, Botanic Garden, Freiburg im Breisgau, Schänzlestraße 1, 79104, Germany Freiburg Materials Research Center (FMF), Albert-Ludwigs University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Stefan-Meier-Straße 21, 79104, Germany.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5341-9188
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Poppinga
mesh_terms: D000825:Animal Structures / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D007865:Leeches / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology*; D008124:Locomotion / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: attachment force; biomechanics; functional morphology; medicinal leech (Hirudo verbana); suction; surface roughness