prosoma
- Pronunciation
- /proh-SOH-muh/
- Category
- Anatomy
- Singular
- prosoma
- Plural
- prosomata
Definition
The anterior part of the body in arachnids and some other arthropods, which includes the head and thorax fused together.
Etymology
From Greek 'pro-', meaning 'before' or 'in front of', and 'soma', meaning 'body'.
Example
In spiders, the prosoma contains the eyes, mouthparts, and the legs.
Synonyms
Related Terms
- Opisthosoma
- Carapace
- Exoskeleton
Usage Notes
The prosoma is a distinctive feature in arachnids and constitutes a significant part of their anatomy, often covered by a hard carapace.