Malpighian tube (english) - meaning, definition, translation, pronunciation

Part of Speech

Noun

Phonetic Transcription

/mælˈpɪɡ.i.ən tuːb/

Meaning and Usage

The term "Malpighian tube" refers to a specialized excretory and osmoregulatory structure found in insects and some arachnids. These tubes contribute to the excretion of nitrogenous waste and the regulation of water and salts within the organism. The Malpighian tubules are typically associated with the midgut and play a significant role in the insect’s overall physiology.

Frequency of Use: The term "Malpighian tube" is primarily used in scientific and biological contexts, particularly in entomology (the study of insects). Because of its technical nature, it is more often found in written contexts, such as textbooks, research articles, and scientific journals, rather than in everyday speech.

Example Sentences

1. The Malpighian tubes of insects allow them to conserve water in arid environments.

2. Malpighian tubes de insectos les permiten conservar agua en entornos áridos.

3. Each Malpighian tube has a blind end that connects to the gut and opens into the hindgut.

4. Cada tubo de Malpighi tiene un extremo ciego que se conecta al intestino y se abre en el intestino posterior.

5. Scientists study the structure of the Malpighian tube to understand how insects adapt to their habitats.

6. Los científicos estudian la estructura del tubo de Malpighi para entender cómo los insectos se adaptan a sus hábitats.

Idiomatic Expressions

"Malpighian tube" does not have commonly recognized idiomatic expressions associated with it due to its technical nature. However, the concepts around excretion and adaptation are often used in various expressions within biological discussions.

Example Sentences using Related Idiomatic Expressions

1. To get the waste out of the system, the Malpighian tube acts like a filtration plant in the insect body.

2. Para eliminar los desechos del sistema, el tubo de Malpighi actúa como una planta de filtración en el cuerpo del insecto.

3. Just as our kidneys filter out toxins, the Malpighian tubes serve a similar purpose in the world of insects.

4. Así como nuestros riñones filtran toxinas, los tubos de Malpighi sirven a un propósito similar en el mundo de los insectos.

Etymology

The term "Malpighian tube" is named after the Italian biologist and anatomist Marcello Malpighi (1628–1694), who was a pioneer in the study of microscopic structures in biology. The term reflects his contributions to our understanding of the anatomy of various organisms, particularly in how organs function at a microscopic level.

Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms: Excretory tubule (referring to its function), tubule (general term for small tubes in biological context).

Antonyms: There are no direct antonyms for "Malpighian tube," as it refers to a specific anatomical structure. However, in a broader context, one could argue that “retention” (in terms of waste) could serve as an antonym to the concept of excretion that the Malpighian tube embodies.