Parapodium
- Pronunciation
- /PAR-a-POD-ee-um/
- Category
- Anatomy
- Singular
- Parapodium
- Plural
- Parapodia
Definition
A lateral extension of the body wall in some annelids, such as polychaetes, often with bristles or other appendages, used for locomotion.
Etymology
From Greek 'para-', meaning 'beside', and 'podium', meaning 'foot'.
Example
The parapodia of marine worms help them to swim and crawl along the seabed.