parapodium

thumb|Specimen of the annelid, Lepidonotus|Lepidonotus oculatus, with a microscope image of one of its parapodia (inset). [[Museums Victoria specimen.]] In invertebrates, the term parapodium (Gr. para, beyond or beside + podia, feet; : parapodia) refers to lateral outgrowths or protrusions from the body. Parapodia are predominantly found in annelids, where they are paired, unjointed lateral outgrowths that bear the chaetae. In several groups of sea snails and sea slugs, 'parapodium' refers to lateral fleshy protrusions. __TOC__

==Annelid parapodia== thumb|upright=0.8|An image plate showing the different anatomical features (dashed outline) of a representative annelid parapodium. Parapodium is from Lepidonotus|Lepidonotus oculatus and is a Museums Victoria specimen. upright=1.5|thumb|Microscope photograph of a parapodium from a specimen of Arctonoe sp. showing the internal acicula that support the two lobes of the parapodium. This parapodium is from a Museums Victoria specimen. Most species of polychaete annelids have paired, fleshy parapodia which are segmentally arranged along the body axis. Parapodia vary greatly in size and form, reflecting a variety of functions, such as, anchorage, protection, locomotion, feeding and breathing.