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A gastric mill is a grinding apparatus found in the digestive system of certain invertebrates. It consists of movable, calcareous, or chitinous pieces located in the pharynx or stomach. In malacostracans, such as crustaceans, the gastric mill is part of the stomach, specifically lining the muscular walls of the pyloric stomach. This structure is well-developed in larger decapods that consume food in large chunks, helping to break it down. The mill includes bristles, teeth, and filtering setae that macerate and process food before it moves to the digestive glands for further breakdown and absorption.12

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