The '''pleuron''' (pl. '''pleura''', from Greek side, rib) is a lateral sclerite of thoracic segment of an insect between the tergum and the sternum.<ref>{{cite book |title=Dictionary of insect morphology, Volume 4 (Handbuch der Zoologie. Teilband 34) |last=Zombori |first= L. |author2=Henrik Steinmann |year=1999 |publisher=Walter de Gruyter |isbn=978-3-11-014898-5 |page=177 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VlAkAtcsmugC |access-date=2010-04-02}}</ref> While the tergum is positioned on the top (dorsal), and the sternum on the bottom (ventral), the pleuron is positioned to the side (lateral). The terms pro-, meso- and metapleuron are used respectively for the pleura of the first, second and third thoracic segments.
A pleuron usually consists of a epimeron and an episternum.<ref>{{Cite Merriam-Webster|Pleuron|accessdate=16 August 2024}}</ref> An epimeron is the posterior (back) sclerite of the pleuron, and an episternum is the anterior (front) sclerite.<ref>{{Cite Merriam-Webster|Episternum|accessdate=16 August 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite Merriam-Webster|Epimeron|accessdate=16 August 2024}}</ref> <!--https://books.google.com/books?id=hTIMhD9BF1kC&pg=PA37&dq=insect+pleuron&lr=&as_drrb_is=q&as_minm_is=0&as_miny_is=&as_maxm_is=0&as_maxy_is=&num=30&as_brr=3&cd=3#v=onepage&q=insect%20pleuron&f=false -->
==References== <references/>
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pleuron (Insect)}} Category:Insect anatomy Category:Thorax (human anatomy)
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