Related Words

Appendages: Parts or organs (such as legs, spinnerets, chelicerae) that are attached to the body.

Spinnerets: The fingerlike abdominal appendages of spiders through which the silk is spun.

Spinners: Paired appendages at the rear end of the abdomen, below the anal tubercle, from the spigots of which silk strands are extruded.

Chelicerae: The pincerlike first pair of appendages of the arachnids: in spiders two-segmented, the distal portion or fang used to inject venom from enclosed glands into the prey.

Autotomy: The act of reflex self-mutilation by dropping appendages: unknown in the arachnids.

Endoskeleton: An internal supporting skeleton with muscles on the outside; in vertebrates, consists of the skull, spinal column, ribs, and appendages.

Autospasy: The loss of appendages by breaking them at a predetermined locus of weakness when pulled by an outside form: frequent in spiders and arachnids.

Appendicular Skeleton: The bones of the appendages (wings, legs, and arms or fins) and of the pelvic and pectoral girdles that join the appendages to the rest of the skeleton; one of the two components of the skel . . . View Full Definition