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

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

This membrane acts as a filter between the brain and hemolymph, blocking potentially damaging molecules from reaching the central nervous system.

From Science Magazine • Sep. 14, 2023

They don't exactly have blood, but a liquid called hemolymph functions about the same way.

From Salon • Oct. 8, 2022

After the hemolymph pumps up the pad, some of it leaks outside the pad, which is how ants can stick to a wall or a ceiling.

From Salon • Sep. 21, 2022

In an open circulatory system, the blood is not enclosed in the blood vessels but is pumped into a cavity called a hemocoel and is called hemolymph because the blood mixes with the interstitial fluid.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022