Tergum

A tergum (Latin for "the back"; pl.: terga, associated adjective tergal) is the <a href="/facts/Anatomical_terms_of_location/IpJ1fq2f">dorsal</a> ('upper') portion of an <a href="/facts/Arthropod/JKJLTFzp">arthropod</a> segment other than the head. The <a href="/facts/Anatomical_terms_of_location/IpJ1fq2f">anterior</a> edge is called the 'base' and posterior edge is called the 'apex' or 'margin'. A given tergum may be divided into hardened plates or <a href="/facts/Sclerite/KWTShcvT">sclerites</a> commonly referred to as tergites.
In a <a href="/facts/Thorax_(insect_anatomy)/YkvR8QJn">thoracic</a> segment, for example, the tergum may be divided into an anterior <a href="/facts/Notum/8lelWnFC">notum</a> and a posterior <a href="/facts/Scutellum_(insect)/t8Gnkx91">scutellum</a>. Lateral extensions of a tergite are known as paranota (Greek for "alongside the back") or carinae (Latin for "keel"), exemplified by the flat-backed millipedes of the order <a href="/facts/Polydesmida/MvFDSjHJ">Polydesmida</a>.
<a href="/facts/Kinorhynchs/UGERFGXe">Kinorhynchs</a> have tergal and sternal plates too, though seemingly not homologous with those of arthropods.
Tergo-tergal is a <a href="/facts/Stridulation/HsDdFI6l">stridulatory</a> mechanism in which fine spines of the abdominal tergites are rubbed together to produce sound. This process is known as abdominal telescoping.

Tergum open-in-new

Tergum