Seta 338271 217038875 2008-06-04T10:20:39Z Jwelby 709417 /* Animal setae */ __NOTOC__ {{wiktionary|seta}} {{otheruses}} '''Seta''' (plural: '''setae''') is a [[biology|biological]] term derived from the [[Latin]] word for "[[bristle]]". It refers to a number of different bristle- or hair-like structures on living [[organism]]s. ==Animal setae== [[Image:Setae.png|thumb|Setae on the toes of an ''[[Uroplatus]]'' [[gecko]]]] In [[zoology]], most "setae" occur in [[invertebrates]]. *Setae in [[annelid]]s are stiff bristles present on the body. They help for example [[earthworm]]s to attach to the surface and prevent backsliding during [[peristaltic]] motion. These hairs are what make it difficult to pull a worm straight from the ground. Setae in [[polychaetes]] (a group including earthworms) are largely composed of [[chitin]].<ref>Hyman, H.L. (1966) "Further Notes on the Occurrence of Chitin in Invertebrates" Biological Bulletin, 130: 1-149. http://www.biolbull.org/cgi/reprint/130/1/94.pdf</ref> *Setae on the legs of [[krill]] and other small [[crustacean]]s help them to gather [[phytoplankton]]. *Setae on [[gecko]] footpads are small hair-like [[process (anatomy)|process]]es responsible for the animal's ability to cling to vertical surfaces. ==Plant setae== In [[botany]], "seta" refers to the stalk supporting the [[sporangium|capsule]] of a [[moss]], [[hornwort]] or [[liverwort]], and supplying it with nutrients. The seta has a short foot embedded in the [[gametophyte]] from which it grows. Setae are not present in all mosses, but in some [[species]] they may reach 15 to 20 centimeters in height.<ref>{{aut|[[Peter H. Raven|Raven, Peter H.]]; Evert, R.F. & Eichhorn, S.E.}} (2005): ''[[Biology of Plants]]'' (7th ed.). W.H. Freeman and Company.</ref> ==Artificial setae== The development of adhesives that detach at will yet display substantial stickiness is of great importance for various technological fields. <ref>[http://www.physorg.com/news120845139.htmlEngineers create new adhesive that mimicks gecko toe hairs] </ref> <ref>[http://www.physorg.com/search/search.php?search=+Gecko%2Bsetae Setae Research]</ref> ==See also== *[[Chaeta]] *[[Synthetic setae]] *[[Van der Waals force#Use by animals|Van der Waals force]] ==References== {{Reflist}} <br/><hr/><br/> {{biology-stub}} [[Category:Plant anatomy]] [[Category:Animal anatomy]] [[de:Seta]] [[eo:Ĥeto]] [[fr:Seta]] [[hu:Szeta (biológia)]] [[nl:Seta]] [[pl:Seta]]