noun
- The fluid that circulates through the body cavity of arthropods and mollusks, functioning similarly to blood in vertebrates.
Usage: biology; also spelled hemolymph in American English
Examples
- Insects rely on haemolymph to transport nutrients and oxygen throughout their bodies.
- The haemolymph of crustaceans contains copper-based proteins instead of iron-based hemoglobin.
- Unlike vertebrate blood, haemolymph does not circulate through closed vessels in most arthropods.
- Scientists study haemolymph composition to understand insect physiology and metabolism.
- The haemolymph bathes the internal organs directly in the body cavity of arthropods.