Iivalve zebhabhathane ngamalungu ombhobho awodwa alawula ukuguquguquka kolwelo lwezinto, nokuba lulwelo okanye iigesi. Zibonisa icwecwe elingqukuva elisebenza ngendlela efanayo namaphiko ebhabhathane. I-disc inokujikeleziswa ukuvula okanye ukuvala ivalve. Iivalve zebhabhathane zixhaphake ngokufumaneka kwiindawo zoshishino, imibhobho yamanzi kunye neenkqubo zokufudumeza kunye nokupholisa ukulawula ukuhamba kwamanzi, umoya okanye nantoni na enye.
Iivalve zebhabhathane nazo zibalulekile kumbhobho, kuba zinceda ukufumanisa ukuba ulwelo luya kuhamba njani na. Zilula ukuzisebenzisa kwaye zixhaphakile kwiifektri. Iivalvu zebhabhathane zidla ngokusetyenziswa kumashishini afana neoyile negesi, amanzi okucoca, ukutya kunye nokulungiswa kwesiselo. Ezi zivalo zilinganisiwe kwaye zenzelwe imisebenzi eyahlukeneyo.