Tergum

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A tergum (plural terga, associated adjective tergal) is the dorsal portion of an arthropod segment other than the head. The anterior edge is called the base and posterior edge is called the apex or margin. A given tergum may be divided into hardened plates or sclerites commonly referred to as tergites.[1]:20 So, for example, in a thoracic segment, the tergum may be divided into an anterior notum and a posterior scutellum. Lateral extension of the dorsal aspect of a tergite are called paranota.

In crustaceans, the tergum is known as a pleuron when it overhangs the insertion of the limb on each side as a free plate[citation needed].

In contrast to the tergum, the ventral portion of a segment is called the sternum.

Examples

Abdominal tergum (divided into several tergites) of a bee
A tergite of this wasp is labeled 19
Thoracic tergites of various trilobites

Footnotes

  1. ↑ McCafferty (1983).

References

    • McCafferty, W.Patrick (1983). Aquatic entomology: the fishermen's and ecologists' illustrated guide to insects and their relatives. Jones & Bartlett Publishers, ISBN 0867200170, ISBN 978-0-86720-017-1. Accessed here through Google Books on 08 Jan 2010.
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