Tergum

A tergum (Latin for 'the back'; plural terga, associated adjective tergal) is the dorsal ('upper') portion of an arthropod segment other than the head. The anterior edge is called the base and posterior edge is called the apex or margin. A given tergum may be divided into hardened plates or sclerites commonly referred to as tergites.:20 For a detailed explanation of the terminology, see Kinorhynchs have tergal and sternal plates too, though seemingly not homologous with those of arthropods.Abdominal tergum (divided into several tergites) of a bee.Seven sclerites distinctly visible on the back of a pregnant scorpion.A tergite of this wasp is labeled 19.Thoracic tergites of various trilobites. A tergum (Latin for 'the back'; plural terga, associated adjective tergal) is the dorsal ('upper') portion of an arthropod segment other than the head. The anterior edge is called the base and posterior edge is called the apex or margin. A given tergum may be divided into hardened plates or sclerites commonly referred to as tergites.:20 For a detailed explanation of the terminology, see Kinorhynchs have tergal and sternal plates too, though seemingly not homologous with those of arthropods. So, for example, in a thoracic segment, the tergum may be divided into an anterior notum and a posterior scutellum. Lateral extensions of a tergite are known as paranota (Greek for 'alongside the back') or carinae (Latin for 'keel'), exemplified by the flat-backed millipedes of the order Polydesmida.