Spinneret

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A garden spider spinning its web. Silk can be seen coming from two spinnerets (click on image to view larger version).

A spinneret is a spider's silk-spinning organ. It is usually on the underside of a spider's abdomen, to the rear. Most spiders have six spinnerets; some have four or two. They move independently and in concert to build webs.

Spinneret also refers to a multi-pored device through which a plastic polymer melt is extruded to form fibers. Streams of viscous polymer usually exit into cool air or liquid to solidify.[link] The individual polymer chains tend to align because of viscous flow. This airstream liquid-to-fiber formation process is similar to the production process for cotton candy.

External links and references

• [Electron microsope image of spider spinnerets]
• [Pictures of industrial spinnerets and description of polymer spinning]

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