ABSTRACT
The peristomial membrane (PM) is an important ligament-like structure involved with the lantern of regular sea-urchins and actively participating in all the activities of this system. Because of its key-role in lantern biomechanics, both the morphology and physiology of the PM deserve detailed study. In this paper the microscopic and submicroscopic architecture of the PM is correlated with its complex physiological behaviour revealed by mechanical testing and computer simulation. The structure described and the wide range of functional performance observed have been interpreted as being typical of a very specialized mutable collagenous tissue.
