Menu
Home
People
Places
Arts
History
Plants & Animals
Science
Life & Culture
Technology
Reference.org
Peritrophic matrix
open-in-new
<p>The peritrophic matrix (from the prefix <i>peri-</i>, meaning around, and <i>-trophic</i>, referring to nutrition(food)) or peritrophic membrane is a semi-permeable, non-cellular structure which surrounds the food <a href="/facts/Bolus_(digestion)/sTG2eKpp">bolus</a> in an organism's <a href="/facts/Midgut/n6Ewuzfk">midgut</a>. Although they are often found in <a href="/facts/Insect/IgDNvnUL">insects</a>, peritrophic matrixes are found in seven different <a href="/facts/Phylum/ELT3Jyax">phyla</a>. The peritrophic matrix serves several functions, including improvement of <a href="/facts/Digestion/sjUBmhBS">digestion</a>, protection against mechanical and chemical damage and serving as a barrier to infection by <a href="/facts/Pathogen/axMXtV1M">pathogens</a>. Such peritrophic envelopes are also of great ecological importance in marine environments. </p>