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Glite Dictionary
sericterium

sericterium

9.9
A gland in some insects and spiders that makes silk
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : sericterio
  • The silkworm’s sericterium is responsible for the production of raw silk threads.

Examples

  • Scientists studied the structure of the spider’s sericterium to understand silk synthesis.

  • Damage to an insect’s sericterium can severely affect its ability to spin cocoons.

  • The sericterium produces silk.

  • Did you know that the sericteria in spiders also produce silk?

  • Damage to an insect’s sericterium can severely affect its ability to spin cocoons.

  • The silkworm’s sericterium is responsible for the production of raw silk threads.

  • Scientists studied the structure of the spider’s sericterium to understand silk synthesis.

Synonyms

spinneret
vssericterium
  • Specialized
1 9.2

A small body part on spiders and some insects that makes silk threads

focuses on internal silk production rather than thread extrusion
serictery
vssericterium
  • Specialized
9.9

A part inside some insects and spiders that makes silk

is the different or older form used for the same gland
silk gland
vssericterium
  • Specialized
6.1

A part inside some insects and spiders that makes thin strong threads for cocoons or webs

focuses on naming the gland rather than its specific uses

Surface Forms

sericterium singular
sericteria plural

Morphology

sericterium = seric (opaque) = seric + terium

The term appears to be a learned scientific formation based on 'seric' ('silken'), but the full meaning 'silk-producing gland' is specialized and not recoverable for an average learner from the parts alone.

Etymology

Sericterium comes from the old root seric- meaning 'silk'. So a sericterium is the gland an insect or spider uses to make silk threads, which is why damage to it can stop a silkworm from making a cocoon.