Internal anatomy: The circulatory system

In the honey bee, as in all insects, the haemolymph fills the entire internal cavity protected by the cuticle. This cavity is called the haemocoel. There is no network of veins and arteries: the organs are bathed in the haemolymph, which supplies the organism with the necessary components. It is referred to as an extracellular fluid. A long tubular vessel, the heart, pumps the haemolymph and ensures the circulation of the fluid throughout the organism.