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corpus allatum

insect anatomy
Also known as: corpora allata

Quick Summary

The corpus allatum is a pair of bodies in insects, sometimes fused, that are closely associated with the corpora cardiaca. These structures secrete hormones, most notably juvenile hormone. Juvenile hormone is crucial for insect development, controlling the retention of juvenile characteristics during larval stages and influencing the process of molting, which is the shedding of the exoskeleton. In adult insects, this hormone is also necessary for normal egg production in females. The corpus allatum is part of the insect endocrine system, which regulates various functions including molting, reproduction, and metabolism.123

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