What is the name of a tick's proboscis? - briefly
The feeding tube of a tick is called the hypostome, a barbed structure that penetrates the host’s skin and anchors the tick while it draws blood. It forms part of the tick’s specialized mouthparts used for hematophagy.
What is the name of a tick's proboscis? - in detail
The feeding apparatus of ticks is termed the hypostome. It is a barbed, needle‑like structure situated at the distal end of the mouthparts and functions as the primary anchoring and piercing organ during blood ingestion.
Key characteristics of the hypostome:
- Composition: composed of sclerotized cuticle reinforced with microscopic backward‑facing barbs that prevent detachment while the tick is engorged.
- Location: forms the central element of the tick’s cheliceral complex, extending from the capitulum (mouthpart capsule) toward the host’s skin.
- Function: pierces epidermal layers, creates a channel for the salivary canal, and secures the tick by interlocking with host tissue.
- Variation: length and barb density differ among families; hard ticks (Ixodidae) possess longer, more robust hypostomes than soft ticks (Argasidae).
The hypostome works in concert with two additional structures:
- Chelicerae – paired, blade‑like appendages that cut through the host’s epidermis, allowing the hypostome to enter.
- Palps (pedipalps) – sensory limbs that guide the hypostome to appropriate insertion sites and assist in positioning.
During feeding, the salivary canal runs within the hypostome, delivering anticoagulants, immunomodulators, and enzymes that facilitate blood uptake and suppress host defenses. After detachment, the barbs remain embedded in the host tissue, ensuring that the tick can withdraw without losing attachment.
In summary, the specialized, barbed structure known as the hypostome is the definitive term for the tick’s proboscis, integral to its blood‑feeding strategy.