Dorsal Longitudinal Muscles
- Pronunciation
- /DOR-sul LONG-i-too-din-al MUS-kuls/
- Category
- Anatomy
- Singular
- Dorsal Longitudinal Muscle
- Plural
- Dorsal Longitudinal Muscles
Definition
Muscles running along the dorsal (back) side of an insect's thorax, responsible for deforming the thorax, which indirectly powers the wings during flight.
Etymology
Example
The dorsal longitudinal muscles flex to deform the thorax, facilitating the wing's downstroke during flight.
Related Terms
- Flight Muscles
- Thorax
- Wing Movement
Usage Notes
Dorsal longitudinal muscles are often paired and work antagonistically with dorsal ventral muscles to facilitate the rapid wing movements necessary for insect flight.