# Ptilinum

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The **ptilinum** is an eversible pouch on the head, above the base of the [antenna](/source/Antenna_(biology)) in [schizophoran](/source/Schizophora) [flies](/source/Diptera) (a [section](/source/Section_(biology)) of [muscomorphan](/source/Muscomorpha) and [cyclorrhaphan](/source/Cyclorrhapha) flies). It is used to force off the end of the [puparium](/source/Puparium) in order for the fly to emerge, and after this inflation at emergence, the ptilinum collapses back inside the head, marked thereafter only by the ptilinal suture or frontal suture (which defines the aperture through which it everts).

## References

- [Bugguide.net. ptilinum, ptilinal suture](https://bugguide.net/node/view/227349)

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