prothorax

The anterior division of the thorax of an insect, bearing the first pair of legs.

In Insecta, the first one of the three thoracic somites, which succeeds the head, is succeeded by the mesothorax, and bears the first pair of legs.

See the adjectives.

The first or anterior segment of the thorax in insects. See Illusts. of butterfly and coleoptera.

The anterior part of the insect thorax; it carries the first pair of legs

the anterior part of an insect’s thorax; bears the first pair of legs