Lice breathe through 7 paired spiracles, 1 on the thorax and 6 on
the abdomen. The SEM to the left shows a lateral view of the
abdomen and the abdominal spiracles.
Lice breathe through 7 paired spiracles, 1 on the thorax and 6 on
the abdomen. The SEM to the left shows a lateral view of the
abdomen and the abdominal spiracles.
The spiracles are in the centre of a raised circular structure
set off from the body.
The spiracles open
into a system of tubes called tracheae. Tracheae occur mainly
inside the thorax and abdomen. The wall of a trachea just below
the spiracle consists of roughly hexagonal cells. In this view
we can look through the spiracular opening into the trachea
attached to it. Perhaps the hexagonal structures
result in an increased surface area for gas exchange.