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Invertebrate body structure

A group of terms all related to the various parts of an invertebrate's body.

Terms in this group

Abdomen
one of the three main body parts of an insect and one of the two main body parts of spiders.
Acrostichal Bristles
bristles found on the top of the thorax of some flies.
Aedeagus
the reproductive organ of male insects.
Androconia
scales on the wings of male butterflies and moths which produce scent.
Antenna
paired sensory organs on the head of insects.
Arista
a bristle found on the antennae of some species of fly.
Arthropod
invertebrate animals that have a jointed exoskeleton.
Asynchronous muscle
muscle that contracts more than once per nerve impulse.
Axilla
the point at which thoracic muscles attach to the wing of an insect.
Book lung
the main respiratory organ in many arachnids.
Brachypterous
a term used to describe an animal with short or reduced wings.
Calypter
a membranous flap that is located at the base of the wing in some species of fly.
Cephalothorax
the anterior most of the two body sections of an arachnid.
Cerci
paired appendages on the abdomen of many insects.
Chelae
pincers or claws at the end of arachnid or crustacean appendages.
Chitin
a tough, translucent material found in arthropod exoskeletons.
Claw
the final segment in the leg of an insect.
Clypeus
one of the plates forming the 'face' of an insect.
Compound eye
the main visual organ in insects.
Cornicle
tubular projections from the abdomen of an aphid.
Costa
a region or vein at the front of an insect's wing.
Coxa
the first segment (closest to the body) of an insect leg.
Crop
part of an insect's gut. The crop is often used as a temporary store for food.
Cuneus
a triangular region found on the fore wings of some Hemiptera.
Cursorial
a phrase used to describe the legs of some insects and other invertebrates that are modified for running.
Cuticle
part of the external skeleton of arthropods.
Direct flight muscles
direct flight muscles are muscles connected to the wing of an insect.
Discal cell
a cell in the wing of some insects.
Distal
the part of an appendage (leg, wing, antenna etc) that is farthest from the body.
Dorsal
the upper surface of an organism.
Ecdysis
moulting of the arthropod cuticle.
Elytra
the hardened fore wings of beetles and earwigs.
Empodium
A lobe or spine between the tarsal claws of many insects.
Epiproct
a projection from an insect's tenth abdominal segment.
Exoskeleton
a skeleton that is on the outside and encases all the muscles and organs of an organism.
Eyespot
markings on an insect, usually the wings, that have a similar appearance to a mammalian eye. Commonly used to scare off potential predators.
Facet
the hexagonal face on the ommatidia within a compound eye.
Fang
hollow, pointed structures attached to the chelicerae of spiders that are used to deliver venom. Centipedes also possess fangs but these are different in structure.
Femur
part of the insect leg between trochanter and tibia.
Filiform
a term used to describe thin, thread-like antennae.
Fossorial
a phrase used to describe the legs of some insects and other invertebrates that are modified for digging.
Fovea
an area in the compound eye that provides greater visual acuity than the rest of the eye.
Frenulum
a row of bristles used to connect the fore and hind wings in some insects.
Gaster
the swollen section of a Hymenopteran abdomen.
Glossa
an insect's tongue.
Gut
the main digestive organ in insects.
Haemocoel
the blood filled body cavity of many invertebrates.
Haemolymph
insect blood.
Haltere
a modified wing that is reduced to form a 'drum stick' shaped balance organ.
Head
the anterior most of the three main body parts of an insect.
Hydrostatic skeleton
a type of exoskeleton supported by fluid pressure.
Indirect flight muscles
indirect flight muscles do not attach directly to the wing of an insect. Flapping is accomplished by deforming the shape of the thorax.
Integument
the outer covering of an insect's body.
Johnstons organ
a sensory organ used to detect sound near the base of the antenna.
Jugum
an area of the fore wing in some insects that overlaps the hind wing and holds them together.
Juvenile hormone
a hormone that inhibits development of a juvenile insect to an adult.
Labium
an insect's lower lip.
Labrum
an insect's upper lip.
Lateral
the side of an organism.
Malpighian tubules
the main excretory system of insects and some other invertebrates.
Mandibles
a pair of mouthparts used for biting or cutting in Arthropods.
Maxilla
part of an insect's mouthparts. They are paired and used to hold or manipulate food.
Ocelli
ocelli are simple light detecting organs.
Ocularium
a raised structure on the body of an Opilione that contains the eyes.
Ommatidia
the individual unit within an insect's compound eye.
Ovary
female reproductive organ that produces eggs.
Ovipositor
a tube that is used for laying eggs.
Pedicel
the thin structure connecting the thorax and abdomen.
Pedipalps
appendages attached to the cephalothorax of arachnids.
Plastron
an array of hairs or bumps used to trap air next to the body of some aquatic insects where it forms a physical gill.
Pollen basket
a structure on the legs of bees in which pollen is carried.
Proboscis
an elongated feeding tube attached to the head of an animal.
Pronotum
a plate-like cover of the first thoracic segment.
Pterostigma
a dark pigmented spot on the leading edge and towards the tip of the wing in some species of insect.
Pulvilli
Lobes or pads between the tarsal claws of many insects that help the insect stick to a surface.
Quadrilateral
a cell in the wing of a damselfly.
Radius
an important vein within the fore wings of insects.
Raptorial
a phrase used to describe the grasping fore legs of some insects and other invertebrates.
Reflex bleeding
a defensive behaviour in some insects where a noxious fluid is exuded by the insect when threatened.
Rostrum
a snout-like projection from the heads of some insects.
Saltatorial
a phrase used to describe the legs of some insects and other invertebrates that are modified for jumping.
Spinneret
an organ that produces silk. Spinnerets are possessed by spiders and some species of insect.
Spiracle
openings on the thorax and abdomen of insects that allow the insect to breathe.
Sting
a sharp organ used by some invertebrates to deliver venom.
Stridulation
the act of producing sound, usually by rubbing two body parts together.
Subesophageal ganglion
a mass of nerve cells that control the mouthparts of insects.
Synchronous muscle
a type of muscle that beats once per nerve impulse.
Tagma
the term used to describe each of the three main divisions of an insect's body.
Tarsomere
sections within the tarsus - the final segment in the leg of an insect.
Tarsus
the final segment in the leg of an insect.
Tegmina
the thickened fore wing of some insects.
Thorax
one of the three main body parts of an insect.
Tibia
the fourth segment of an insect's leg.
Tomentum
fine hairs that cover the bodies of some insects.
Trachea
tubes attached to the spiracles allowing oxygen to diffuse into an insect's body.
Tracheoles
thin tubes attached to the trachea within the body of an insect and permit gaseous exchange.
Trichobothrium
hair-like structures of arachnids and some insects that are used to detect vibration.
Trochanter
the second segment of an insect's leg.
Tymbal
a cicada's sound producing organ.
Tympanal organ
the hearing system of insects.
Uric acid
a waste substance excreted by insects and many other terrestrial animals.
Urticating hairs
defensive hairs possessed by some arachnids and insects that cause itching and irritation in mammals.
Vein
structures that support an insect's wing.
Venation
the arrangement of veins in an insect's wing. Venation is very important in the identification of insect species.
Ventral
the lower surface of an organism.
Wing bud
flattened structures possessed by nymphs from which the wings will develop in the adult insect.

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