Corneal facet
- Pronunciation
- /KOR-neel FAS-it/
- Category
- Anatomy
- Singular
- Corneal facet
- Plural
- Corneal facets
Definition
The individual subunits of the compound eye in insects and some other arthropods, each facet corresponds to one ommatidium.
Etymology
From Latin 'corneus', meaning 'horny' or 'horn-like', and 'facies', meaning 'face'.
Example
Under a microscope, you can see the hexagonal arrangement of corneal facets in a fly's compound eye.
Synonyms
- Lens facet
- Eye facet
Related Terms
- Compound eye
- Ommatidium
- Insect vision
Usage Notes
The number and arrangement of corneal facets can vary greatly among different insect species, affecting their visual capabilities.