Plural of 'episternum'; paired sclerotized (hardened) structures on the sides of an insect's or crustacean's thorax, positioned between the leg base and back plates.
From Greek 'epi' (upon) + 'sternon' (breastbone/chest), used in entomology and arthropod anatomy to name these lateral thoracic segments visible in insect body diagrams.
When entomologists peer at an insect under a microscope, the episterna are key landmarks they use—they're like the ribs on your ribcage, but on the outside of a bug's body.
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