Microspines
- Pronunciation
- /mi-kroh-SPINEZ/
- Category
- Anatomy
- Singular
- Microspine
- Plural
- Microspines
Definition
Microscopic spines found on the exoskeleton of certain arthropods, often used for grip or defense.
Etymology
From Greek 'mikros', meaning 'small', and 'spina', meaning 'spine'.
Example
The microspines of the larvae of some parasitic flies are used to grasp onto their hosts.
Related Terms
- Spines
- Defense
- Parasitism
- Exoskeleton
Usage Notes
Microspines are typically found on the exoskeleton of arthropods, particularly those belonging to the order Diptera.