hemolymph

American  

[hee-muh-limf, hem-uh-] / ˈhi məˌlɪmf, ˈhɛm ə- /

noun

Anatomy.

1. a fluid in the body cavities and tissues of invertebrates, in arthropods functioning as blood and in some other invertebrates functioning as lymph.

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hemolymph Scientific  

/ hē′mə-lĭmf′ /

1. The circulatory fluid of invertebrates, including all arthropods and most mollusks, that have an open circulatory system. Hemolymph is analogous to blood and lymph in vertebrate animals and is not confined in a system of vessels. Hemolymph consists of water, amino acids, inorganic salts, lipids, and sugars.

2. See more at circulatory system

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Other Word Forms

• hemolymphatic adjective

Etymology

Origin of hemolymph

First recorded in 1880–85; hemo- + lymph

Example Sentences

As the ants start to attack, the larva tenses its muscles and expels a drop of bright red fluid known as hemolymph.

From Science Magazine • Mar. 15, 2024

Called hemolymph, the substance is chock-full of carminic acid, a toxic chemical that grants the liquid a bloodlike hue and prompts the ants to abandon their assault.

From Science Magazine • Mar. 12, 2024

Every few days, the researchers took some bees and extracted their hemolymph, which was analyzed for certain biomarkers that indicate good health.

From Salon • Oct. 8, 2022

This body fluid is called hemolymph, which is a sticky fluid similar to your blood that circulates throughout an ant's body.

From Salon • Sep. 21, 2022

Invertebrates that utilize hemolymph rather than blood use different pigments to bind to the oxygen.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022