prosternum

American  

[proh-stur-nuhm] / proʊˈstɜr nəm /

noun

plural

prosterna, prosternums

1. the ventral sclerite of the prothorax of an insect.

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prosternum British  

/ prəʊˈstɜːnəm /

noun

1. the sternum of the prothorax of an insect

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Other Word Forms

• prosternal adjective

Etymology

Origin of prosternum

From New Latin, dating back to 1820–30; pro- ¹, sternum

Example Sentences

Sternal elements of prosoma almost entirely absent, traces of a prosternum and metasternum alone remaining.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 2, Slice 3 "Apollodorus" to "Aral" by Various

By means of the oar-like hind-legs they swim actively through the water with the ventral surface upwards; the fore-legs are inserted at the hinder edge of the prosternum.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 13, Slice 3 "Helmont, Jean" to "Hernosand" by Various

Proboscis free, not supported from below by either the prosternum or the basal segments of the appendages of the 2nd pair.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 2, Slice 3 "Apollodorus" to "Aral" by Various

Sternal area broad, with prosternal, two mesosternal, and metasternal plates, the prosternum projecting forwards beneath the coxae of the 2nd pair of appendages.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 2, Slice 3 "Apollodorus" to "Aral" by Various

Ante-furca: an internal forked process from the prosternum, to which muscles are attached.

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