Grasshopper Anatomy: A Detailed Look at Key Structures
Grasshopper Anatomy: Key Structures and Functions
Here’s a detailed breakdown of the grasshopper’s anatomy, covering its key structures and their respective functions:
1. Head
Contains nervous tissue and sensory organs.
2. Thorax
Bears structures associated with movement.
3. Abdomen
Contains reproductive and digestive organs.
4. Clypeus
Delimits the lower margin of the face.
5. Labrum
Protects the delicate mouthparts.
6. Mandibles
Grab and tear food into smaller pieces.
7. Maxillae
Move food particles into the pre-oral cavity.
8. Maxillary Palp
Tests food quality.
9. Hypopharynx
Acts like a tongue, moving food around inside the pre-oral cavity.
10. Labium
Acts like the lower lip and aids in holding and grasping food.
11. Labial Palps
Sensory function related to testing the quality of food prior to eating it.
12. Salivary Glands
Aid in beginning the digestive process by breaking down food chemically.
13. Simple Eyes/Ocelli
Responsible for discerning light and dark.
14. Compound Eyes
Function as miniature eyes.
15. Antennae
Function in chemical and tactile senses.
16. Prothorax
Supports the first pair of walking legs.
17. Mesothorax
Supports the first pair of wings and the second pair of walking legs.
18. Metathorax
Houses the second pair of wings, the jumping legs, and two pairs of spiracles.
19. Tegmina
Protect the more membranous hindwings underneath.
20. Hindwings
Contribute three times as much to flight lift than the tegmina.
21. Walking Legs
Used for walking and climbing.
22. Jumping Legs
Used for jumping.
23. Coxa
Attaches legs to the body and is followed in line by the trochanter.
24. Trochanter
Top half of the leg that moves so that the grasshopper can move.
25. Femur
Provides the grasshopper with the power it needs to propel itself into the air.
26. Tibia
Holds the spines and attaches to the tarsus.
27. Spines
Used for gripping the surface of objects.
28. Tarsus
Functions as the foot when the grasshopper lands.
29. Spiracles
Allow air to enter into the internal breathing system.
30. Tympanic Membrane
Receives and processes sound waves from the surrounding environment.
31. Ovipositor
Used for digging a hole in which to lay eggs.
32. Anus
Food is eliminated.
33. Subgenital Plate
Final segment of male reproduction.
34. Aedeagus
Reproductive organ.
35. Vagina
Canal through which eggs are passed.
36. Oviducts
Attachment of the two ovaries.
37. Ovaries
Develop eggs.
38. Common Oviduct
Carries ripe eggs.
39. Testes
Hold the spermatocytes until they are ready.
40. Vas Deferens
Carry the sperm to the ejaculatory duct.
41. Ejaculatory Duct
Transports mature spermatocytes out of the body.
42. Pharynx
Connects the mouth and esophagus.
43. Esophagus
Carries food to the crop.
44. Crop
Holds the food until it is ready to be passed into the gizzard.
45. Gizzard
Grinds food for further digestion.
46. Stomach
Mechanically and chemically digests the food.
47. Gastric Caecae
Help the stomach.
48. Ileum
Absorbs digested nutrients.
49. Colon
Absorbs excess water.
50. Rectum
Stores and releases food to the anus.
51. Malpighian Tubules
Act as food filters of waste products.
52. Hemocoel
Nutrient exchange takes place.
53. Hearts
Pump hemolymph into the hemocoel.
54. Aorta
Helps the circulatory system.
55. Tracheal Tubes
Help the respiratory system.
56. Air Sacs
Air can be stored.
57. Ventral Nerve Cord
Similar to the brain and spinal cord of a human.
58. Ganglia
Linked packages of neurons of varying sizes.
59. Interganglionic Tissues
Controls a segment of the grasshopper.
60. Brain
Does the majority of the work.