Malpighian tubule

noun

A tubule that extends from the alimentary canal to the exterior of the organism, excreting water and wastes in the form of solid nitrogenous compounds. Found in certain insects, arachnids, myriapods and tardigrades.

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Meanings

nounMalpighian tubule (plural Malpighian tubules)

plural Malpighian tubules

  1. A tubule that extends from the alimentary canal to the exterior of the organism, excreting water and wastes in the form of solid nitrogenous compounds. Found in certain insects, arachnids, myriapods and tardigrades.

    The fruit fly's malpighian tubules, which act like a kidney, have a daily rhythm[…].

    1997 November 28, Elizabeth Pennisi, “CELL BIOLOGY: Multiple Clocks Keep Time in Fruit Fly Tissues”, in Science, volume 278, number 5343, →DOI, pages 1560–1561

Origin

From Marcello Malpighi (1628-1694).

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Cite this entry
APA

Malpighian tubule. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Malpighian%20tubule

MLA

“Malpighian tubule.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Malpighian%20tubule. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Malpighian tubule,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Malpighian%20tubule.

Source: Malpighian tubule on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.