How does a tick bite the body? - briefly
A tick pierces the skin with its barbed hypostome, anchoring itself while injecting saliva that contains anticoagulants and anesthetics to keep blood flowing and the host unaware. It then remains attached for several days, gradually ingesting blood through the feeding tube.
How does a tick bite the body? - in detail
A tick locates a host by climbing onto vegetation and extending its forelegs to sense heat, carbon‑dioxide, and movement. When contact is made, the tick grasps the skin with its tarsal claws and inserts its mouthparts.
The feeding apparatus consists of:
- Chelariae – two cutting plates that pierce the epidermis.
- Hypostome – a barbed, tube‑like structure that anchors the parasite and serves as a conduit for blood.
- Salivary glands – release anticoagulants, vasodilators, and immunomodulatory proteins that facilitate blood flow and suppress host defenses.
After the skin is breached, the tick secretes a cement‑like substance that hardens around the hypostome, securing attachment and preventing premature dislodgement. Blood is drawn through the hypostome into the tick’s foregut while saliva is continuously injected into the wound.
Feeding proceeds in two stages:
- Early phase (0–24 h) – the tick inserts the hypostome, secretes cement, and begins ingesting plasma. Pathogen transmission is unlikely during this brief interval.
- Late phase (24 h to several days) – the tick expands its body, increasing blood intake dramatically. Salivary components accumulate, and the probability of transmitting bacteria, viruses, or protozoa rises sharply.
When engorgement reaches 100 % of the tick’s capacity, the cement weakens, and the parasite detaches, leaving a small puncture site that may remain open for several minutes. The wound typically heals without scarring, although residual feeding fluid can cause localized irritation or allergic reactions.