Basic Fish Anatomy Flashcards
What does fusiform external anatomy mean?
Torpedo shaped
What does globiform external anatomy mean?
Round shaped
What does depressiform external anatomy mean?
Dorsoventrally flattened
What does compressiform external anatomy mean?
Laterally flattened
What does sagittiform external anatomy mean?
Elongated
What does anguiliform external anatomy mean?
Eel shaped
Is fish skin keratinized?
It has minimal keratinization
What specialized cells are in the epidermis?
Mucous secreting cells to produce protective mucous layer
What is abundant in the dermis?
Rich in vessels and fibrous connective
tissue to provide structural support
What are chromatophores?
Melanophores, lipophores, erythropores.
(most chromatophores contain pigments that absorb specific wavelengths of light - google)
they let fishies change color!
What are iridophores?
Guanophores.
(function as multilayer reflectors - google)
What are the four principal types of fish scales?
- Cycloid
- Ctenoid
- Placoid
- Ganoid
Describe cycloid scales.
Small oval shaped scales with growth rings
Describe ctenoid scales.
Small oval scales with growth rings and spines (ctenii) at one edge.
Describe fish muscles.
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).
What are the different mouth positions?
- Terminal
- Subterminal
- Superior
- Inferior
What are the types of teeth?
Teeth are cuspidate, homodont, and polyphyodont.
Describe the pharynx.
Has both digestive and respiratory functions.
5 pairs of branchial arches with two sets of gill rakers to retain food.
What do many species have after the pylorus?
Digitiform evaginations = pyloric caeca (up to 1000 depending on species)
Describe the liver.
One large liver lobe.
Describe the pancreas.
Pancreas diffuse within mesenteric fat.
Describe the heart.
- Morphology varies by species
- 2 chambered (Atrium and Ventricle)
- Bulbus arteriosus and sinus venosus
What is the total circulating volume of blood?
3-4% of body weight.
What type of activity does the ventricle have?
Phagocytic activity.
What are the key features of the vasculature?
4 Branchial arteries and renal portal system
What kind of exchange occurs between water flow and vasculature?
Cross current exchange.
What are the segments of the kidney?
Anterior (head) and posterior
What are the functions of the anterior kidney?
hematopoietic and endocrine (adrenal) function
What are the functions of the posterior kidney?
hematopoietic and excretory function
- Creatinine
- Divalent ions
- Ammonium (NH4)
Corpuscles of Stannius function?
Aid in serum calcium regulation.
Describe the thyroid.
Not discrete, found in multiple areas of the body.
Where are the adrenal gland elements located?
Within the anterior (head) kidney.
What areas of the brain are well developed?
Olfactory tract and optic lobes.
Describe the eyes.
Lens is hard and protrudes through iris
What do the nares connect to?
Paired olfactory sacs.
What is the lateral line system?
- Paired sensory organs on head and the lateral aspects of body
Neuromasts sense changes in …
water pressure.
Describe the lateral-acoustic system.
No external ears, complex inner ear.
