Editing Adephaga (section)

==Chemical glands==
All families of adephagan have paired [[pygidium|pygidial]] [[gland]]s located posterodorsally in the [[abdomen]], which are used for secreting chemicals. The glands consist of complex [[invagination]]s of the [[cuticle]] lined with [[Squamous epithelium|epidermal]] cells contiguous with the [[integument]]. The glands have no connection with the [[rectum]] and open on the eighth abdominal [[tergum]].

Secretions pass from the [[secretory lobe]]s, which are aggregations of secretory cells, through a tube to a reservoir lined with muscles. This reservoir then narrows to a tube leading to an opening valve.  The secretory lobes differ structurally from one taxon to another; it may be elongated or oval, branched [[Anatomical terms of location#Elongated organisms|basally or apically]], or unbranched.