Proventriculus
- Pronunciation
- /proh-ven-TRIH-kyoo-luhs/
- Category
- Anatomy
- Singular
- Proventriculus
- Plural
- Proventriculi
Definition
The anterior portion of the insect gut where food is ground up and sometimes mixed with digestive enzymes.
Etymology
From Latin 'pro-', meaning 'before', and 'ventriculus', meaning 'belly' or 'stomach'.
Example
The proventriculus in a grasshopper plays a crucial role in the breakdown of ingested plant material.
Related Terms
- Gut
- Digestion
- Stomach