pterocardiac

adj. [Gr. pteron, wing; kardia, heart]

(ARTHROPODA: Crustacea)

In Decapoda, a gastric mill ossicle in the form of a curved triangular plate articulating with the mesocardiac ossicle along the broad base, with the bent apex connected to the anterior process of the zygocardiac ossicle; in a few species these ossicles are slightly elongated and straight.