A sensillum (plural sensilla) is an
arthropodsensory organ protruding from the
cuticle of
exoskeleton, or sometimes lying within or beneath it. Sensilla appear as small hairs or pegs over an individual's body. Inside each sensillum there are two to four sensory neurons. These neurons, or receptors, gather information about environment the arthropod is in:[1]
Chemo-reception is one of the most dominant senses in the insect kingdom. Many arthropods use chemical signals to locate food, shelter and mates.
Other invertebrates have similar sensory organs also referred to as sensilla; these consist of various papillae or ciliated areas of the cuticle connected to sensory neurons and occur in
velvet worms,
tardigrades and
leeches.[3]
References
^Steinbrecht, Rudolf Alexander (2007). "Structure and Function of Insect Olfactory Sensilla". Ciba Foundation Symposium 200 - Olfaction in Mosquito-Host Interactions. Novartis Foundation Symposia. Vol. 200. pp. 158–183.
doi:
10.1002/9780470514948.ch13.
ISBN9780470514948.
ISSN1935-4657.
PMID8894297.