At the L1 stage, a seam cell, T, performs phasmid socket cell function and is attached to the sheath cell and syncytial hypodermis by adherens junctions in both sexes. At the L2 stage, when phasmid structure is still indistinguishable between sexes, the T-cell daughters PHso1 and PHso2 perform the socket cell function. PHso1 wraps around the tip of the neuronal dendrites and is connected to PHsh and PHso2, but not to the hypodermis, by adherens junctions. PHso2, on the other hand, is connected to the hypodermis and PHso1, but not to PHsh. Later, male and hermaphrodite phasmids differ in their composition. In the adult male, PHso2 functions as a true socket cell, whereas PHso1 protrudes into the sheath and may contain up to two basal bodies, although it does not display any other characteristics of neurons. In the adult hermaphrodite, on the other hand, PHso1 is the main socket cell and PHso2 has a thin wrapping around it. Phasmid sheath cells extend short processes posteriorly into the tail tip to form a protective channel for PHA and PHB cilia near the phasmid openings.