Cuticle: Mechanical Properties

The cuticles of all arthropods have similar mechanical functions in comprising an exoskeleton, a protective cover and a barrier between the metabolic tissues and the environment of the animal. How these functions are achieved depends on the structure and the composition of the cuticle. Generally there is little difference in the means of achieving the mechanical properties of cuticle by members of the different classes of arthropods. Neville (1975) revealed that the largest proportion of the available information concerns insect cuticle and that relatively little is known about cuticles of other arthropods; this is still true. This section will be primarily concerned with the results from insect cuticle. Most ideas on other cuticles, such as those of crustaceans or arachnids, have been derived by conjecture from insect work. The relevance of calcification will be discussed separately.

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