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.