metastoma

M3E1T1A1S1T1O1M3A1

noun

A median elevation behind the mouth in the arthropods.

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Meanings

nounmetastoma (plural metastomas or metastomata)

plural metastomas · plural metastomata · alternative metastome

  1. biologyA median elevation behind the mouth in the arthropods.
  2. biologyA ventral single plate located in the opisthosoma of some non-arachnid chelicerates in the extinct genus Houia which is involved in feeding and manipulating food.
  3. biologyA structure found in some mosses and liverworts that covers the mouth of the capsule from which spores are released.

Origin

From meta- (“behind”) + στόμα (stóma, “mouth”).

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Cite this entry
APA

metastoma. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/metastoma

MLA

“metastoma.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/metastoma. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “metastoma,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/metastoma.

Source: metastoma on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.