Cheliceral furrow
- Pronunciation
- /kuh-LIS-uh-rul FUR-oh/
- Category
- Anatomy
- Singular
- Cheliceral furrow
- Plural
- Cheliceral furrows
Definition
A groove or channel found on the chelicerae (mouthparts) of arachnids, particularly spiders, which often contains fangs and can hold venom.
Etymology
Derived from 'chelicera', from Greek 'chele', meaning 'claw', and 'keras', meaning 'horn', combined with 'furrow', from Old English 'furh', meaning 'trench' or 'groove'.
Example
The venom travels through the cheliceral furrow before being injected into the prey by the spider's fangs.
Synonyms
- Cheliceral groove
Related Terms
- Chelicerae
- Fangs
- Venom glands
- Arachnid
- Spider
Usage Notes
The structure and function of the cheliceral furrow can vary significantly between different species of arachnids.