Ctenidium
- Pronunciation
- /K-TEN-id-ee-uh/
- Category
- Anatomy
- Singular
- Ctenidium
- Plural
- Ctenidia
Definition
A comb-like respiratory organ found in certain aquatic arthropods, such as crustaceans, and in mollusks, not in aquatic insects.
Etymology
From Greek 'ktenis', meaning 'comb' or 'brush', referring to the comb-like structure of the organ.
Example
The ctenidia of a mollusk allow it to breathe underwater.
Related Terms
- Breathing
- Aquatic arthropods
- Mollusks