1. Animal setae
    Invertebrates  Vertebrates 

2. Fungal setae

3. Plant setae

4. Chaetoceros setae

5. Synthetic setae

6. See also

7. References

In biology, setae {{IPAc-en|ˈ|s|iː|t|iː}} (singular seta {{IPAc-en|ˈ|s|iː|t|ə}}; from the Latin word for "bristle") are any of a number of different bristle- or hair-like structures on living organisms.

Animal setae

Invertebrates

Crustaceans have mechano- and chemosensory setae.^[3] Setae are especially present on the mouthparts of crustaceans^[3] and can also be found on grooming limbs.^[4] In some cases, setae are modified into scale like structures.^[4] Setae on the legs of krill and other small crustaceans help them to gather phytoplankton. It captures them and allows them to be eaten.

Setae on the integument of insects are unicellular, meaning that each is formed from a single epidermal cell of a type called a trichogen, literally meaning "bristle generator". They are at first hollow and in most forms remain hollow after they have hardened. They grow through and project through a secondary or accessory cell of a type called a tormogen, which generates the special flexible membrane that connects the base of the seta to the surrounding integument. Depending partly on their form and function, setae may be called hairs, macrotrichia, chaetae, or scales. The setal membrane is not cuticularized and movement is possible. Some insects, such as Eriogaster lanestris larvae, use setae as a defense mechanism, as they can cause dermatitis when they come into contact with skin.^[5]

Vertebrates

The pads on a gecko's feet are small hair-like processes that play a role in the animal's ability to cling to vertical surfaces. The micrometer-scale setae branch into nanometer-scale projections called spatulae.^[6]

• Gekko's seta: According to Kellar Autumn, "Two front feet of a tokay gecko (Gekko gecko) can withstand 20.1 N of force parallel to the surface with 227 mm² of pad area (Irschick et al. 1996). The foot of a tokay bears approximately 3600 tetrads of setae per mm², or 14,400 setae per mm² (Schleich and Kastle 1986; pers- obs-)- Consequently, a single seta should produce an average force of 6-2 pN, and an average shear stress of 0-090 N mm^−l (0.9 atm). However, single setae proved both much less sticky and much more sticky than predicted by whole animal measurements, under varying experimental conditions, implying that attachment and detachment in gecko setae are mechanically controlled (Autumn et al. 2000)."^[7]

Fungal setae

In mycology, "setae" refer to dark brown, thick-walled, thorn-like cystidia found in corticioid and poroid fungi in the family Hymenochaetaceae.^[8] Though mainly microscopic, the setae of some species may be sufficiently prominent to be visible with a hand lens.

Plant setae

In botany, "seta" refers to the stalk supporting the capsule of a moss or liverwort, and supplying it with nutrients. The seta is part of the sporophyte and has a short foot embedded in the gametophyte on which it is parasitic. Setae are not present in all mosses, but in some species they may reach 15 to 20 centimeters in height.^[9]

Chaetoceros setae

In the diatom family Chaetocerotaceae, "seta" refers to the hairlike outgrowths of the valve, i.e. of the face of the cells.^[10] These setae have a different structure than the valve. Such setae may prevent rapid sinking and also protect the cells from grazing.

Synthetic setae

See also

• Chaeta
• Synthetic setae
• Van der Waals force

References

• Frans Oerder
• Frans of Longueville
• Fran Sol
• Franson
• Frans Otten
• Frans Pauwels
• Frans Peeters
• Frans Pieterze Grebber
• Frans Pourbus the elder
• Frans Pourbus the younger
• Frans Rapola
• Frans Ronnes
• Frans Sales Lega Airport
• Frans Schrofer
• Franssen
• Frans Sisita
• Fransson
• Frans Spits
• Frans Teulings
• Frans Thijsz
• Frans Timmermans (politician)
• Frans Titelmans
• Frans Tuohimaa
• Fransum
• Frans van Bleyswyck