Gena

/ˈdʒiːnə/ noun

Definition

In anatomy or zoology, the cheek or the side of the face; in insects, the part of the head below the eye.

Etymology

From Latin 'gena' (cheek), a direct borrowing. Used in scientific terminology for anatomical regions in humans, animals, and insects.

Kelly Says

Scientific names preserve Latin words like 'gena' because they're precise and universal—a biologist in Japan and Germany will agree about what 'gena' means in an insect, even if they don't speak English.

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