Editing Sclerite (section)

==Arthropods==
[[File:Parasite170028-fig10 Illustrated guide of Phlebotominae (Diptera, Psychodidae).png|thumb|left|Sclerites of cervix and thorax of [[Phlebotominae]]]]
In [[Arthropoda]], the hardening that produces sclerites is accomplished either by the cross-linking of protein chains in the [[exocuticle]], a process called [[Sclerotin|sclerotization]], or by incorporation of minerals such as calcium carbonate into regions of the exoskeleton, or both. Thus, the arthropod exoskeleton is divided into numerous sclerites, joined by less-sclerotized, membranous regions or sutures.

[[Anatomical terms of location#Dorsal and ventral|Dorsal]] sclerites of a body segment, often plate-like, are known as ''[[Tergum|tergites]]''. Similarly the [[Anatomical terms of location#Dorsal and ventral|ventral]] sclerites of a body segment are referred to as ''[[Sternum (arthropod anatomy)|sternites]]''. Separate sclerites on the lateral aspects of body segments, the [[pleuron (insect anatomy)|pleura]], are called ''pleurites''.<ref name="isbn0-412-61390-5">{{cite book |author1=Richards, O. W. |author2=Davies, R.G. |title=Imms' General Textbook of Entomology: Volume 1: Structure, Physiology and Development Volume 2: Classification and Biology |publisher=Springer |location=Berlin |year=1977 |isbn=0-412-61390-5 }}</ref>