Arthropod anatomy

Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 78. Chapters: Chelicerate anatomy, Crustacean anatomy, Insect anatomy, Springtail anatomy, Gill, Ecdysis, Halteres, Ovipositor, Wing, Simple eye in invertebrates, Antenna, Insect mouthparts, Maxilla, Mandible, Arthropod exoskeleton, Antennal lobe, Scale, Chelicerae, Hypostome, Malpighian tubule system, Ommatidium, Hepatopancreas, Cephalon, Sclerite, Wing coupling, Mushroom bodies, Imaginal disc, Decapod anatomy, Stomatogastric nervous system, Nephridium, Crop, Arthropod cuticle, Invertebrate trachea, Scolopidia, Labrum, Great appendage, Tymbal, Johnston's organ, Crista acustica, Pollen basket, Opisthosoma, Telson, Metasoma, Trichobothria, Elytron, Mesosoma, Furcula, Corpus allatum, Frenulum, Ventral nerve cord, Pygidium, Mesothorax, Cornicle, Mycangium, Tagma, Exuvia, Cercus, Proleg, Pterostigma, Sternum, Cephalothorax, Glabella, Osmeterium, Tergum, Notum, Raptorial, Aedeagus, Branchiostegal lung, Prothorax, Tympanal organ, Coxal gland, Kenyon cell, Metathorax, Siphon, Metapleural gland, Calyx, Clypeus, Tentorium, Tracheole, Clasper, Petiole, Scutellum, Bacteriome, Pleuron, Ovariole, Supraesophageal ganglion, Prostigma, Chordotonal organ, Gaster, Cenchrus, Cryptonephridium, Arista, Pincer, Tegula, Notopleuron, Peltidium, Dactylus, Mentum, Brood pouch, Calypter, Collophore, Frons, Taenidia, Campaniform sensilla, Cervix, Tegmen, Pergameneous, Ptilinum, Propodeum, Gonopore, Ovipore, Parafacial, Holoptic, Juxta, Prothoracic gland, Subesophageal ganglion, Sensillum. Excerpt: Insects are the only group of invertebrates known to have evolved flight. Insects possess some remarkable flight characteristics and abilities, still far superior to attempts by humans to replicate their capabilities. Even our understanding of the aerodynamics of flexible, flapping wings and how insects fly is imperfect. One application of this research is in the engineering of extremely small micro air vehicles with low Reynolds numbers. Insect wings are adult outgrowths of the insect exoskeleton that enable insects to fly. They are found on the second and third thoracic segments (the mesothorax and metathorax), and the two pairs are often referred to as the forewings and hindwings, respectively, though a few insects lack hindwings, even rudiments. Insect wings do not constitute appendages in technical parlance, as insects only have one pair of appendages per segment. The wings are strengthened by a number of longitudinal veins, which often have cross-connections that form closed "cells" in the membrane (extreme examples include Odonata and Neuroptera). The patterns resulting from the fusion and cross-connection of the wing veins are often diagnostic for different evolutionary lineages and can be used for identification to the family or even genus level in many orders of insects. Fully functional wings are present only in the adult stage, after the last moult. The one exception is the order Ephemeroptera, in which the penultimate instar (also called the subimago) possesses well-developed and functional wings, which are shed at the final moult. Wings are only present in the subclass Pterygota, with members of the archaic Apterygota being wingless. Wings may also be lost in some pterygote clades, such as the fleas and lice. The wings may be present in only one sex (often the male) in some groups such as velvet ants and Strepsiptera, or selectively lost in "workers" of social insects such as ants and termites. Rarely, the female is winged but the ...