Ommatidium
- Pronunciation
- /ah-muh-TID-ee-uh/
- Category
- Anatomy
- Singular
- Ommatidium
- Plural
- Ommatidia
Definition
The individual optical units of a compound eye, each consisting of a lens and photoreceptor cells, contributing to the overall image formation in arthropods.
Etymology
From the Greek 'ommat-', meaning 'eye', and the diminutive suffix '-idium', meaning 'small'.
Example
Insects like bees have thousands of ommatidia in their compound eyes, which allow them to detect movement and navigate effectively.
Related Terms
- Compound eye
- Photoreceptor
- Arthropods
Usage Notes
The number and arrangement of ommatidia can vary widely among different arthropod species, influencing their visual capabilities.