insect ring gland

A closely associated cluster of three neuroendocrine glands located anterior to the aorta and dorsal to the esophagus. At embryonic stage 17 and in larva it is found anterior to the brain and is formed by the corpus cardiacum ventrally, the prothoracic gland laterally and the corpus allatum dorsally. The adult ring gland is located anterior to the proventriculus and is formed by the corpus cardiacum ventrally, the corpus allatum dorsally and the hypocerebral ganglion posterior to the corpus cardiacum. It is innervated by neurons of the nervus corporis cardiaci (NccI-III).