thorax, thoracic

Classification · Explanation of Names · Identification · See Also · Print References · Internet References · Works Cited

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

No Taxon (Glossary --use Taxonomy, then Info tabs to view entries)

No Taxon (T)

No Taxon thorax, thoracic

Explanation of Names

From Greek thorax, chest, breastplate.

Identification

thorax noun, adjective thoracic - that part of the body between the head and the abdomen in an insect, the second of the three main divisions.

The primary role of the thorax in insect physiology is movement--the legs and wings are attached on this part of the body.

The three divisions of the thorax are the prothorax (front), the mesothorax (middle), and the metathorax (rear).

See Also

Divisons of the insect body:

head

thorax

abdomen

Divisions of thorax (front | middle | rear):

prothorax | mesothorax | metathorax

Dorsal surface of thorax (notum):

pronotum | mesonotum | metanotum

Lateral (pleural) surface of thorax:

propleuron | mesopleuron | metapleuron

Ventral surface of thorax:

prosternum | mesosternum | metasternum

Print References

Gordh, A Dictionary of Entomology, p. 923 (1)

Internet References

Jardine's Dictionary of Entomology

Wikipedia: Thorax, Prothorax, Mesothorax, Metathorax

Works Cited

1.	A Dictionary of Entomology By George Gordh, David H. Headrick

Contributed by Cotinis on 22 May, 2007 - 8:38pm
Additional contributions by Tony Thomas
Last updated 16 January, 2008 - 11:09am

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