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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Glossary » T » thorax, thoracic

thorax, thoracic

Classification · Explanation of Names · Identification · See Also · Print References · Internet References · Works Cited
Diagram of an insect Parts of a Caterpillar Anatomy of a Spider
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
No Taxon (Glossary)
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
George Gordh, David H. Headrick. 2003. CABI Publishing.
Contributed by Cotinis on 22 May, 2007 - 8:38pm
Additional contributions by Tony-2
Last updated 2 March, 2021 - 8:44am

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