mesothorax

American  

[mez-uh-thawr-aks, -thohr-, mes-, mee-zuh-, -suh-] / ˌmɛz əˈθɔr æks, -ˈθoʊr-, ˌmɛs-, ˌmi zə-, -sə- /

noun

plural

mesothoraxes, mesothoraces

1. the middle segment of the three divisions of the thorax of an insect, bearing the second pair of legs and the first pair of wings.

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mesothorax British  

/ ˌmɛsəʊˈθɔːræks, ˌmɛsəʊθɔːˈræsɪk /

noun

1. the middle segment of the thorax of an insect, bearing the second pair of walking legs and the first pair of wings See also prothorax metathorax

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Other Word Forms

• mesothoracic adjective

Etymology

Origin of mesothorax

First recorded in 1820–30; meso- + thorax

Example Sentences

Many of the names which he proposed are still in use; it was he who introduced the terms prothorax, mesothorax, and metathorax, for the three segments of the insect's thorax.

From Form and Function A Contribution to the History of Animal Morphology by E. S. (Edward Stuart) Russell

Prothoracic segment a little longer than the mesothorax which, in turn, slightly exceeds the metathorax.

From Journal of Entomology and Zoology Volume 11, Number 4, December 1919 by Alexander, Charles P.

Note the division of the body into head, thorax, composed of prothorax, mesothorax and metathorax, and abdomen consisting of ring-like segments.

From An Elementary Study of Insects by Haseman, Leonard

Post-sutural: in Trichoptera, the little plate behind the scutellum of mesothorax: = post-scutellum.

From Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology by Smith, John. B.

Mesosternellum: in Orthoptera, two median lobes of the mesosternum, one on each side of the deep median notch: in general, the sternellum of the mesothorax.

From Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology by Smith, John. B.