Basic Fish Anatomy

Question 1

What does fusiform external anatomy mean?

Answer 1

Torpedo shaped

Question 2

What does globiform external anatomy mean?

Answer 2

Round shaped

Question 3

What does depressiform external anatomy mean?

Answer 3

Dorsoventrally flattened

Question 4

What does compressiform external anatomy mean?

Answer 4

Laterally flattened

Question 5

What does sagittiform external anatomy mean?

Answer 5

Elongated

Question 6

What does anguiliform external anatomy mean?

Answer 6

Eel shaped

Question 7

Is fish skin keratinized?

Answer 7

It has minimal keratinization

Question 8

What specialized cells are in the epidermis?

Answer 8

Mucous secreting cells to produce protective mucous layer

Question 9

What is abundant in the dermis?

Answer 9

Rich in vessels and fibrous connective
tissue to provide structural support

Question 10

What are chromatophores?

Answer 10

Melanophores, lipophores, erythropores.

(most chromatophores contain pigments that absorb specific wavelengths of light - google)

they let fishies change color!

Question 11

What are iridophores?

Answer 11

Guanophores.

(function as multilayer reflectors - google)

Question 12

What are the four principal types of fish scales?

Answer 12

1. Cycloid
2. Ctenoid
3. Placoid
4. Ganoid

Question 13

Describe cycloid scales.

Answer 13

Small oval shaped scales with growth rings

Question 14

Describe ctenoid scales.

Answer 14

Small oval scales with growth rings and spines (ctenii) at one edge.

Question 15

Describe fish muscles.

Answer 15

Muscles of fish are layered rather than bundled as in other vertebrates.

Each “layer” is a myotome that is separated by sheet of connective tissue (myosepta).

Question 16

What are the different mouth positions?

Answer 16

• Terminal
• Subterminal
• Superior
• Inferior

Question 17

What are the types of teeth?

Answer 17

Teeth are cuspidate, homodont, and polyphyodont.

Question 18

Describe the pharynx.

Answer 18

Has both digestive and respiratory functions.

5 pairs of branchial arches with two sets of gill rakers to retain food.

Question 19

What do many species have after the pylorus?

Answer 19

Digitiform evaginations = pyloric caeca (up to 1000 depending on species)

Question 20

Describe the liver.

Answer 20

One large liver lobe.

Question 21

Describe the pancreas.

Answer 21

Pancreas diffuse within mesenteric fat.

Question 22

Describe the heart.

Answer 22

• Morphology varies by species
• 2 chambered (Atrium and Ventricle)
• Bulbus arteriosus and sinus venosus

Question 23

What is the total circulating volume of blood?

Answer 23

3-4% of body weight.

Question 24

What type of activity does the ventricle have?

Answer 24

Phagocytic activity.

Question 25

What are the key features of the vasculature?

Answer 25

4 Branchial arteries and renal portal system

Question 26

What kind of exchange occurs between water flow and vasculature?

Answer 26

Cross current exchange.

Question 27

What are the segments of the kidney?

Answer 27

Anterior (head) and posterior

Question 28

What are the functions of the anterior kidney?

Answer 28

hematopoietic and endocrine (adrenal) function

Question 29

What are the functions of the posterior kidney?

Answer 29

hematopoietic and excretory function - Creatinine - Divalent ions - Ammonium (NH4)

Question 30

Corpuscles of Stannius function?

Answer 30

Aid in serum calcium regulation.

Question 31

Describe the thyroid.

Answer 31

Not discrete, found in multiple areas of the body.

Question 32

Where are the adrenal gland elements located?

Answer 32

Within the anterior (head) kidney.

Question 33

What areas of the brain are well developed?

Answer 33

Olfactory tract and optic lobes.

Question 34

Describe the eyes.

Answer 34

Lens is hard and protrudes through iris

Question 35

What do the nares connect to?

Answer 35

Paired olfactory sacs.

Question 36

What is the lateral line system?

Answer 36

- Paired sensory organs on head and the lateral aspects of body

Question 37

Neuromasts sense changes in ...

Answer 37

water pressure.

Question 38

Describe the lateral-acoustic system.

Answer 38

No external ears, complex inner ear.