Describe the structure of a leg of cockroach.
The cockroach's thorax consists of three segments ; prothorax, mesothorax and metathorax. Each thoracic segment bears a pair of walking legs.- The prothoracic legs are closest to the it's head. These are the shortest legs, and they act like brakes when the cockroach runs.
- The middle legs are the mesothoracic legs. They move back and forth to either speed the cockroach up or slow it down.
- The very long metathoracic legs are it's back legs, and they move it forward.
A typical cockroach legs consists of 5 different segments namely coxa, trochanter (acts like a knee), femur and tibia (resemble thigh and shin bones) and tarsus as shown in the diagram.