Insect Anatomy and Physiology - Video Notes (VOCABULARY Flashcards)

Vocabulary flashcards covering key insect anatomy, physiology, and reproductive/digestive/respiratory systems from the lecture notes.

Cercus

Paired appendages at the posterior end of many insects; typically sensory or tactile structures.

Wing Vein

provides rigidity and pattern in insect wings.

Claw

Terminal Hook on the end of a leg (tarsus) used to grip surfaces.

Eye (Compound Eye)

composed of many individual facets called ommatidia; provides wide field of view.

Antenna

Sensory appendages on the head used for detecting chemical, tactile, and other cues.

Vertex

The top/back portion of the insect head.

Ocelli

Small, single-lens eyes that detect light intensity; aid in orientation.

Ecdysial Cleavage

Line or pattern in the cuticle related to molting (ecdysis) in insects.

Mandibles

Primary chewing mouthparts used for biting and cutting food.

Frons

The forehead region of the insect head.

Gena

The cheek region of the insect head.

Clypeus

A plate between the frons and labrum on the insect face.

Labrum

The upper lip of the mouthparts; helps to hold food.

Labium

The lower lip; often bears labial palps and forms part of the lower mouthparts.

Maxilla

Mouthpart used to manipulate food; bears maxillary palps.

Maxillary palp

Palp on the maxilla used for sensing and manipulating food.

Labial palp

Palp on the labium used for sensing and manipulating food.

Prothorax

Anterior thoracic segment; bears the first pair of legs.

Mesothorax

Middle thoracic segment; bears the middle legs and often forewings.

Metathorax

Posterior thoracic segment; bears hind legs and hind wings.

Thorax

Central body region composed of pro-, meso-, and meta-thorax; bears legs and usually wings.

Forewing

Anterior wing; primary wing in many insects.

Hind Wing

Posterior wing; may be reduced or hidden in some groups.

Leg

Locomotor appendage with segments (coxa, trochanter, femur, tibia, tarsus).

Coxa

Base segment of a leg attaching to the body.

Trochanter

Small segment between the coxa and femur.

Femur

Thigh segment of the leg.

Tibia

Leg segment between the femur and the tarsus.

Tarsus

Distal leg segment; ends in claws and often subdivided into tarsomeres.

Tarsomere

Subsegment of the tarsus.

Abdomen

Posterior body region; typically contains digestive and reproductive organs.

Ovipositor

Egg-laying organ in many female insects.

Spiracle

External opening to the tracheal system; can be closed to limit water loss.

Ommatidia

Individual facets/unit of the compound eye.

Retinula cells

Light-sensitive cells within each ommatidium.

Crystalline cone

Optical element within each ommatidium that helps focus light.

Stomodeum

Foregut region; includes esophagus and crop.

Mesenteron

Midgut where digestion and absorption occur.

Proctodeum

Hindgut region involved in digestion and excretion.

Esophagus

Tube connecting the pharynx to the crop; part of the foregut.

Crop

Food storage organ in the foregut.

Pyloric valve

Valve between foregut and midgut regulating passage of food.

Gastric caeca

Digestive sacs in the midgut increasing surface area for digestion.

Ventriculus

Midgut stomach where digestion occurs.

Proventriculus

Valve between foregut and midgut; sometimes acts as a mechanized gizzard.

Malpighian tubules

Excretory tubes that remove wastes and deliver them into the gut.

Peritrophic membrane

Protective membrane lining the midgut that surrounds food during digestion.

Aedeagus

Male intromittent organ used during mating.

Ovary

Gonad in females that produces eggs.

Ovariol

Tubular unit within the ovary where eggs develop.

Common oviduct

Main duct through which eggs travel from ovaries to the genital tract.

Oviduct

Duct that transports eggs from the ovary to the genital opening.

Spermatheca

Storage organ in females for sperm after mating.

Spermathecal gland

Gland associated with the spermatheca that maintains sperm viability.

Vagina

Female genital canal or genital chamber used for egg laying.

Vas efferens

Tubules that carry sperm from the testes toward the female.

Testes

Male gonads that produce sperm.

Sperm

Male reproductive cells.

Seminal vesicle

Storage organ for sperm in the male reproductive tract.

Ejaculatory duct

Duct through which sperm are ejaculated during mating.

aedeagus

The male copulatory organ in insects, used to transfer sperm to the female during mating.

Tympanal organs

Hearing organs of insects; their exact location varies by species.

Tracheae

Large tubes in the insect respiratory system that transport air.

Tracheoles

Fine branches of tracheae where gas exchange occurs.

Air sacs

Expandible sacs that help ventilate the tracheal system.

Lasius niger

Queens can live up to ~30 years and may store sperm for long periods.