Arthropod

The Arthropoda are a Phylum of invertebrates (animals without backbones) that have a joined exoskeleton. The Arthropods include the arachnids, crustaceans, insects and others.

The arthropod body is supported by an hard outer layer. This acts as an external skeleton - or exoskeleton. The body muscles are attached to the inside of this exoskeleton. It is made up of rings (called segments) which are attached to one another by flexible membranes. This allows movement of the body to take place. The name arthropod refers to their jointed limbs, which are their chief characteristic. (Arthros = joint, Podium = foot).

Other names for (or types of) Arthropod include:

• Arthropoda

Related terms

• Asynchronous muscle
• Chelicerae
• Chelicerata
• Chitin
• Crustaceans
• Exoskeleton
• Invertebrate
• Mandibles
• Minibeast
• Mollusc

Related groups of terms

• Invertebrate body structure

Related pages on this web site

• Introduction to Arthropods

See other words beginning with A