noun
- Plural of proctodeum; the posterior section of the alimentary canal in arthropods and some other invertebrates, derived from the ectoderm.
Usage: zoology; anatomy; technical
Examples
- The proctodeums of insects are lined with a chitinous cuticle.
- In arthropod development, the proctodeums form from ectodermal tissue.
- The proctodeums connect to the rectum in many invertebrate species.
- Zoologists study the proctodeums to understand digestive system evolution.