metastoma

Meanings

1. A median elevation behind the mouth in the arthropods.
2. A ventral single plate located in the opisthosoma of some non-arachnid chelicerates in the extinct genus Houia which is involved in feeding and manipulating food.
3. A structure found in some mosses and liverworts that covers the mouth of the capsule from which spores are released.

Etymology

From meta- (“behind”) + στόμα (stóma, “mouth”).