prosternum

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   entomology: the ventral exoskeletal plate of an insect's prothorax

   The beetle rubbed a ridge on its prosternum against a neighboring plate to make sound.

Formed from pro-, 'before or front,' + sternum, 'breastbone or ventral plate.' In entomology it names the lower plate of the prothorax, the insect's front thoracic segment.

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