Chordotonal Organ

Pronunciation
/kor-doh-TOE-nal or-gan/
Category
Anatomy
Singular
Chordotonal organ
Plural
Chordotonal organs

Definition

A sensory organ in insects that detects mechanical vibrations such as sound, typically found in the antennae or legs. It consists of specialized cells called scolopidia arranged along a flexible axis.

Etymology

From Greek 'chordē' meaning 'string' and 'tonos' meaning 'tone', referring to the ability to perceive sound and vibrations.

Example

The chordotonal organ in the antennae of crickets allows them to detect the vibrations produced by other crickets during courtship.

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