Sensillum

A sensillum (plural sensilla) is an arthropod sensory organ protruding from the cuticle of exoskeleton, or sometimes lying within or beneath it. Sensilla appear as small hairs or pegs over an individual's body. Inside each sensillum there are two to three sensory neurons. These neurons, or receptors, gather information about environment the arthropod is in:[1]

  • Chemoreceptors (i.e. trichoid, basionic, coeloconic, placodea)
  • Mechanoreceptors (e.g.: campaniform sensilla)
  • Thermoreceptors
  • Hygroreceptors

Most sensilla are specially shaped according to the type of information they are gathering.

Chemoreceptors

Chemo-reception is one of the most dominant senses in the insect kingdom. Many arthropods use chemical signals to locate food, shelter and mates.

Other invertebrates have similar sensory organs also referred to as sensilla; these consist of various papillae or ciliated areas of the cuticle connected to sensory neurones and occur in velvet worms, tardigrades and leechs.[2]

References
  1. Steinbrecht, Rudolf Alexander (2007). "Structure and Function of Insect Olfactory Sensilla": 158–183. doi:10.1002/9780470514948.ch13. ISSN 1935-4657. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  2. Ruppert, Edward E.; Fox, Richard, S.; Barnes, Robert D. (2004). Invertebrate Zoology, 7th edition. Cengage Learning. p. 508. ISBN 978-81-315-0104-7.


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