sternite

A sternite is the ventral part or shield of a somite in an arthropod, specifically the chitinous plate forming the ventral surface of an abdominal or thoracic segment. This term is derived from the Greek word sternon, meaning chest. In contrast, the sternum in tetrapods is an elongated bone in the chest that supports the collarbones and ribs. Arthropods have an exoskeleton, which includes sclerites that are stiff plates separated by flexible joints. Some insects have specific sternal plates like the eusternum, which is the anterior plate of the sternum. In scorpions, the structure of the sternum is used for classification.12345