The collector carefully removed the opercule from the fossil to study the muscle attachments beneath.

The museum display included several fossil shells with well-preserved opercules.

The operculate snails sealed themselves inside their shells when a storm approached.

A careful cataloger identified a small operculate among the tidal debris and noted that its operculum fit the shell perfectly.

The biologist carefully cataloged the operculates found in the tide pool, noting differences in their hinged lids.

The operculated snail withdrew into its shell when the tide rose.

After complaining of persistent pain and swelling, the patient was found to have operculitis around a partially erupted wisdom tooth.

Careful observation of the snail revealed operculation, as a small hardened lid sealed the shell's opening.

After diagnosing the inflamed operculum, the surgeon recommended an operculectomy to relieve the patient's pain.