cuticle

(noun)

a noncellular protective covering outside the epidermis of many invertebrates and plants

Related Terms

  • coelomate
  • herbivore
  • ecdysis
  • mesophyll
  • trichome

Examples of cuticle in the following topics:

  • Superphylum Ecdysozoa

    • The superphylum Ecdysozoa includes the nematode worms and the arthropods, both of which have a tough external covering called a cuticle.
    • All members of this superphylum periodically molt or shed their cuticle as they grow .
    • After molting, they secrete a new cuticle that will last until their next growth phase.
    • The process of molting and replacing the cuticle is called ecdysis, which is the derivation of the superphylum's name.
    • The old cuticle splits and the insect climbs out.
  • Phylum Nematoda

    • Nematodes are parasitic and free-living worms that are able to shed their external cuticle in order to grow.
    • The phyla in this group have a hard cuticle covering their bodies, which must be periodically shed and replaced for them to increase in size.
    • The cuticle of Nematodes is rich in collagen and a carbohydrate-protein polymer called chitin.
    • The cuticle also lines many of the organs internally, including the pharynx and rectum.
    • Teeth occur in some species in the form of cuticle extensions.
  • Leaf Structure, Function, and Adaptation

    • A waxy layer known as the cuticle covers the leaves of all plant species.
    • The cuticle reduces the rate of water loss from the leaf surface.
    • Many aquatic plants have leaves with wide lamina that can float on the surface of the water; a thick waxy cuticle on the leaf surface that repels water.
    • A waxy cuticle covers all aerial surfaces of land plants to minimize water loss.
  • Nails

    • The eponychium, or cuticle, is situated between the skin of the finger and the nail plate fuses these structures together and provides a waterproof barrier.
  • Phylum Annelida

    • The epidermis is protected by an acellular, external cuticle, but this is much thinner than the cuticle found in the ecdysozoans and does not require periodic shedding for growth.
    • Chitinous hairlike extensions, anchored in the epidermis and projecting from the cuticle, called setae/chaetae are present in every segment.
  • Movement of Water and Minerals in the Xylem

    • Leaves are covered by a waxy cuticle on the outer surface that prevents the loss of water.
    • Such plants usually have a much thicker waxy cuticle than those growing in more moderate, well-watered environments (mesophytes).
    • (b) A. perrottetii leaves have a waxy cuticle that prevents water loss.
  • Plant Defenses Against Pathogens

    • The first line of defense in plants is an intact and impenetrable barrier composed of bark and a waxy cuticle.
  • Classification and Identification of Helminths

    • Its body covering is a cuticle and the digestive tube ends in the anus.
  • Structural Adaptations for Land in Seedless Plants

    • In land plants, a waxy, waterproof cover called a cuticle protects the leaves and stems from desiccation.
    • However, the cuticle also prevents intake of carbon dioxide needed for the synthesis of carbohydrates through photosynthesis.
  • Plant Defenses Against Herbivores

    • The first line of defense in plants is an intact and impenetrable barrier composed of bark and a waxy cuticle.
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