spiracle

Insect air hole

A spiracle is a small opening for breathing.

In insects and some other arthropods, spiracles are holes along the body that allow air into the respiratory system.

In sharks and rays, spiracles are openings behind the eyes that draw water over the gills.

The word occasionally appears for any small vent or blowhole: the spiracles of a whale.

insect-respiration

trachea

Respiratory airway tube

oxygenElement eight, colorless gas
ventilationCirculation of fresh air
exoskeletonExternal skeletal structure

thorax · abdomen · chitin · arthropod · entomology · invertebrate · metamorphosis · larva · pupa · caterpillar

opening

aperture

Adjustable optical inlet

orificeBodily passage entrance
ventOpening for airflow
poreTiny dermal opening

hole · slit · inlet · outlet · passage · fissure · opening · segmental

shark-anatomy

blowhole

Whale's breathing aperture

gillAquatic respiratory organ
cartilageFlexible connective body tissue
rayNarrow light emission

skate · vestigial · cranium · electroreceptor · denticle · nostril · jaw · fin · snout · benthic

whale-blowhole

blowhole

Whale's breathing aperture

cetaceanAquatic mammal order
baleenWhale's filtering bristles
humpbackBaleen whale species

orca · beluga · narwhal · minke · breach · fluke · spout · exhalation · surfacing · krill

Categories

bug partsantennae, thorax, abdomen, head, legs
fish anatomygills, fins, tail, eye, pelvic fins
insect anatomyabdomen, antennae, thorax, exoskeleton, head
fly anatomyabdomen, thorax, head, wing, leg
insectsant, ants, bee, bees, butterfly
amphibiansfrog, frogs, newt, toad, toads

Opposites

respiratory opening type

spiraclenostril

Nasal breathing aperture

lung · gill · mouth · blowhole · trachea

aperture size/prominence

spiracleorifice

Bodily passage entrance

aperture · pore

openness/closure

spiracleocclusion

Complete closure or blockage

Family

conspiracy, spiracles

Familiarity: Top 1,000,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Rated G