- Arachnids
Arachnids are invertebrates that have eight legs. Spiders,mites,scorpions and ticks are all arachnids. These invertebrates have no wings or antennae.
- Basal Lamina
Extracellular matrix secreted by epithelial cells. Found on the integument of insects.
- Carnoy's Fixative
A tissue fixative comprised of ethanol,acetic acid and chloroform. Used for glycogen preservation and nucleic acids. This fixative is sometimes used for insect tissue.
- CD45
Cluster of differentiation 45. A tyrosine phosphatase. Sometimes used to identify osteoblasts.
- CD68
Cluster of differentiation glycoprotein. Used for osteoclast differentiation in IHC assays.
- Chilopoda
Class of arthropods that comprises Centipedes.
- Chitinases
Enzymes responsible for breaking down chitinous exoskeletons.
- Coleoptera
The order of insects that comprises beetles. This is the largest insect order with the highest number of known species.
- Collagen I
The most abundant type of collagen. Found in skin,tendon,scar tissue,bones & teeth.
- Collagen II
Found in hyaline cartilage.
- Collagen III
Produced by growing fibroblasts and found in granulation tissue.
- Collagen IV
The collagen of basil lamina.
- Dictyoptera
Insect order that comprises: Cockroaches,Mantids and Termites.
- Diptera
Insect order that contains flies and mosquitos. Species in this order contain a single pair of wings.
- Epigynum
Found only on adult female spiders (abdominal region) and part of the reproductive organs.
- Formalin
A saturated solution of formaldehyde (usually a 10% solution). Primarily a commercial preparation that includes a small amount of methanol.
- Hymenoptera
The order of insects that comprises ants,bees,sawflies and wasps.
- IHC
Acronym for immunohistochemistry.
- ISH
Acronym for In situ hybridization.
- Melanin (Insect)
An insoluble polymer derived from amino acids that produce dark pigments in insects.
- Mesothelae
A suborder of spider only found in parts of southeastern Asia and Japan.
- Mineral Apposition rate (MAR)
A derived parameter used to gauge bone formation.
- Myoblasts
Muscle forming cells
- Myocytes
The principle cells of muscles.
- Opisthothelae
Suborder of spiders of which most spiders belong.
- Orthoptera
Order of insects comprising crickets and grasshoppers.
- Osteoblasts
Bone cells responsible for bone formation.
- Osteocytes
Mature bone cells located in bone matrix.
- Paraformaldehyde
A polymer or condensation product of formaldehyde.
- Pedicel
The stem-like structure supporting an organ. In spiders,this structure connects the prosoma and opisthosoma.
- Proteoglycan
Proteoglycans are a class of glycoprotein. They are a found in animal extracellular matrix. Examples: Cartilage and skin.
- RNAi
RNA interference which assists in gene control and activity.
- SEM
Acronym for Scanning Electron Microscopy.
- Tarsus
The most distal segment of the legs ,which bears the foot and claw at the tip.
- TEM
Acronym for Transmission Electron Microscopy.
- Tenocytes
The collagen producing cells in tendons.
- Triglyceride
In insects,triglycerides are the lipid-storing organs.
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