ommatidium

views updated Jun 27 2018

ommatidium One of the individual, light-sensitive units that together form a compound eye. Each ommatidium consists of a cuticular lens below which is the crystalline cone. Below this are six or seven elongated retinula cells, which have close-packed microvilli towards the centre forming a structure called the rhabdome. Pigment cells surround the retinula cells. See also EYE.

ommatidium

views updated May 23 2018

ommatidium (pl. ommatidia) See compound eye.

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