Amphid
Encyclopedia
Amphids are inervated invaginations of cuticle
in nematode
s. They are usually found in the anterior (head) region of the animal, at the base of the lips. Amphids are the principal chemosensory organs of nematodes. Each amphid is made up of 12 sensory neuron
s with ciliated dendrite
s.
Cuticle
A cuticle , or cuticula, is a term used for any of a variety of tough but flexible, non-mineral outer coverings of an organism, or parts of an organism, that provide protection. Various types of "cuticles" are non-homologous; differing in their origin, structure, function, and chemical composition...
in nematode
Nematode
The nematodes or roundworms are the most diverse phylum of pseudocoelomates, and one of the most diverse of all animals. Nematode species are very difficult to distinguish; over 28,000 have been described, of which over 16,000 are parasitic. It has been estimated that the total number of nematode...
s. They are usually found in the anterior (head) region of the animal, at the base of the lips. Amphids are the principal chemosensory organs of nematodes. Each amphid is made up of 12 sensory neuron
Sensory neuron
Sensory neurons are typically classified as the neurons responsible for converting external stimuli from the environment into internal stimuli. They are activated by sensory input , and send projections into the central nervous system that convey sensory information to the brain or spinal cord...
s with ciliated dendrite
Dendrite
Dendrites are the branched projections of a neuron that act to conduct the electrochemical stimulation received from other neural cells to the cell body, or soma, of the neuron from which the dendrites project...
s.