Sternum (arthropod)

Sternum (arthropod)

The sternum (pl. "sterna") is the ventral portion of a segment of an arthropod thorax or abdomen.

In insects, the sterna are usually single, large sclerites, and external. However, they can sometimes be divided in two or more, in which case the subunits are called sternites, and may also be modified on the terminal abdominal segments so as to form part of the functional genitalia, in which case they are frequently reduced in size and development, and may become internalized and/or membranous.

Ventrites are externally visible sternites. Usually the first sternite is covered up, so that vertrite numbers do not correspond to sternid numbers.

The term is also used in other arthropod groups such as crustaceans, arachnids and myriapods. Sternites on the pleon (abdomen) of a crustacean may be referred to as pleonsternites. These are the sites of attachment of the pleopods (swimming legs).


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  • Sternum — Ster num, n.; pl. L. {Sterna}, E. {Sternums}. [NL., from Gr. ?, the breast, chest.] 1. (Anat.) A plate of cartilage, or a series of bony or cartilaginous plates or segments, in the median line of the pectoral skeleton of most vertebrates above… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • sternum — /sterr neuhm/, n., pl. sterna / neuh/, sternums. 1. Anat., Zool. a bone or series of bones extending along the middle line of the ventral portion of the body of most vertebrates, consisting in humans of a flat, narrow bone connected with the… …   Universalium

  • sternum — [ stə:nəm] noun (plural sternums or sterna nə) 1》 the breastbone. 2》 Zoology a thickened ventral plate on each segment of the body of an arthropod. Origin C17: mod. L., from Gk sternon chest …   English new terms dictionary

  • sternum — ster•num [[t]ˈstɜr nəm[/t]] n. pl. na( nə), nums. 1) anat. zool. the bony plate or series of bones to which the ribs are attached anteriorly or ventrally in most vertebrates; breastbone 2) the ventral surface of a body segment of an arthropod •… …   From formal English to slang

  • Sterna — Sternum Ster num, n.; pl. L. {Sterna}, E. {Sternums}. [NL., from Gr. ?, the breast, chest.] 1. (Anat.) A plate of cartilage, or a series of bony or cartilaginous plates or segments, in the median line of the pectoral skeleton of most vertebrates… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Sternums — Sternum Ster num, n.; pl. L. {Sterna}, E. {Sternums}. [NL., from Gr. ?, the breast, chest.] 1. (Anat.) A plate of cartilage, or a series of bony or cartilaginous plates or segments, in the median line of the pectoral skeleton of most vertebrates… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • skeleton — skeletonless, adj. skeletonlike, adj. /skel i tn/, n. 1. Anat., Zool. the bones of a human or an animal considered as a whole, together forming the framework of the body. 2. any of various structures forming a rigid framework in an invertebrate.… …   Universalium

  • muscle — muscleless, adj. muscly, adj. /mus euhl/, n., v., muscled, muscling, adj. n. 1. a tissue composed of cells or fibers, the contraction of which produces movement in the body. 2. an organ, composed of muscle tissue, that contracts to produce a… …   Universalium

  • Insect morphology — Legend of body parts Tagmata : A Head, B Thorax, C Abdomen. 1. antenna 2. ocelli (lower) 3. ocelli (upper) 4. compound eye 5. brain (cerebral ganglia) 6. prothorax …   Wikipedia

  • Insect — For the Breed 77 album, see Insects (album). Insect Temporal range: 396–0 Ma …   Wikipedia

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