# Operculum

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**Operculum** may refer to:

## Human biology

- [Operculum (brain)](/source/Operculum_(brain)), the part of the brain covering the insula
- [Operculum (dentistry)](/source/Operculum_(dentistry)), a small flap of tissue which may cover an erupting or partially erupted molar
- [Cervical mucus plug](/source/Cervical_mucus_plug), the cervical mucus plug that blocks the cervix of the uterus after conception

## Animal biology

- [Operculum (animal)](/source/Operculum_(animal)), a structure resembling a lid or a small door that opens and closes
- [Operculum (bird)](/source/Operculum_(bird)), a structure which covers the nares of some birds
- [Operculum (bryozoa)](/source/Operculum_(bryozoa)), a lid on the orifice of some bryozoans
- [Operculum (fish)](/source/Operculum_(fish)), a flap covering the gills of bony fish
- [Operculum (gastropod)](/source/Operculum_(gastropod)), a sort of trapdoor used to close the aperture of some snails
- [Operculum papillare](/source/Operculum_papillare), the iris found in the eyes of elasmobranchs (skates, sharks, and rays)
- The anterior end of the puparium in some insects, through which the adult emerges; for example the wasp *[Stenogastrinae](/source/Stenogastrinae#Pupa)*

## Botany

- [Operculum (botany)](/source/Operculum_(botany)), various lids and flaps pertaining to plants, algae, and fungi

## See also

- [Dehiscence (botany)](/source/Dehiscence_(botany)), the opening of a plant structure, such as a fruit, anther, or sporangium, to release its contents

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Operculum](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operculum) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operculum?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.