Internal Anatomy of Fish

The Systems of a Fish Skeletal System Muscular System Respiratory System Digestive System Circulatory System Nervous System Reproductive System Special Organs

Skeletal System

The Skeleton The skeletons of most fish consist mainly of: Skull Backbone Ribs Fin rays Supports for fin rays or fins

Skull consists chiefly of the brain case and supports for the mouth and gills

Backbone The central framework for the trunk and tail is the backbone. It consists of many separate segments of bone or cartilage called vertebrae. In bony fish, each vertebra has a spine at the top, and each tail vertebra also has a spine at the bottom.

Ribs Ribs are attached to the vertebrae

Supports for fin rays or fins pectoral fins of most fish are attached to the back of the skull by a structure called a pectoral girdle pelvic fins are supported by a structure called a pelvic girdle, which is attached to the pectoral girdle or supported by muscular tissue in the abdomen dorsal fins are supported by structures of bone or cartilage, which are rooted in tissue above the backbone caudal fin is supported by the tail anal fin by structures of bone or cartilage below the backbone

Muscular System

Types of Muscle Skeletal Muscle Smooth Muscle Heart Muscle

Skeletal Muscle Fish use their skeletal muscles to move their bones and fins A fish's flesh consists almost entirely of skeletal muscles. They are arranged one behind the other in broad vertical bands called myomeres. The myomeres can easily be seen in a skinned fish. Each myomere is controlled by a separate nerve. As a result, a fish can bend the front part of its body in one direction while bending its tail in the opposite direction. Most fish make such movements with their bodies to swim.

Smooth Muscle A fish's smooth muscles work automatically. The smooth muscles are responsible for operating such internal organs as the stomach and intestines.

Respiratory System

Organs of the Respiratory System Gills Most fish have four pairs of gills enclosed in a gill chamber on each side of the head Each gill consists of two rows of fleshy filaments attached to a gill arch

How do fish breathe? (bony fish) fish gulp water through the mouth and pump it over the gills the breathing process begins when the gill covers close and the mouth opens at the same time, the walls of the mouth expand outward, drawing water into the mouth. the walls of the mouth then move inward, the mouth closes, and the gill covers open. this action forces the water from the mouth into the gill chambers. in each chamber, the water passes over the gill filaments. they absorb oxygen from the water and replace it with carbon dioxide formed during the breathing process. the water then passes out through the gill openings, and the process is repeated

Digestive System

What does the Digestive system do? changes food into materials that nourish the body cells eliminates materials that are not used

Organs of the Digestive System jawed mouth with a tongue and teeth fish cannot move its tongue fish have their teeth rooted in the jaws Pharynx a short tube behind the mouth Esophagus a tubelike organ expands easily, which allows the fish to swallow its food whole Stomach

Organs of the Digestive System… Liver Bile-producing digestive gland Gall Bladder Small sac containing the bile Pyloric cecum cul-de-sac related to the intestine where a part of digestion mainly occurs, as well as fermentation Intestines Anus

How does digestion work in fish? Fish use their teeth to seize prey or to tear off pieces of their victim's flesh. Most fish also have teeth in the pharynx, which they use to crush or grind food. Food passes through the pharynx on the way to the esophagus From the esophagus, food passes into the stomach, where it is partly digested The digestive process is completed in the intestines. The digested food enters the blood stream. Waste products and undigested food pass out through the anus.

Circulatory System

What does the Circulatory System do? distributes blood to all parts of the body

Organs of the Circulatory System Heart consists of two main chambers - the atrium and the ventricle Blood Vessels Arteries Kidneys Spleen impurities in the blood are destroyed

How does blood circulate in a fish? blood flows through veins to the atrium. blood then passes to the ventricle muscles in the ventricle pump the blood through arteries to the gills here the blood receives oxygen and gives off carbon dioxide arteries then carry the blood throughout the body carrying food and oxygen to cells and waste away from cells kidneys remove the waste products from the blood, which returns to the heart through the veins

Nervous System

Organs of the Nervous System Spinal Cord consists of soft nerve tissue runs from the brain through the backbone Brain enlargement of the spinal cord is enclosed in the skull Nerves extend from the brain and spinal cord to every part of the body

How does the Nervous System work? Nerves sensory nerves carry messages from the sense organs to the spinal cord and brain motor nerves carry messages from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles

Reproductive System

Organs of the Nervous System Males Testes produce male sex cells, or sperm Females Ovaries produce female sex cells, or eggs also called roe or spawn

How does the Reproductive System work? Most fish release their sex cells into the water through an opening near the anus. The males of some species have special structures for transferring sperm directly into the females. Male sharks, for example, have such a structure, called a clasper, on each pelvic fin. The claspers are used to insert sperm into the female's body

Special Organs

Special Organs Swim Bladder below the backbone baglike organ is also called an air bladder provides buoyancy, which enables the fish to remain at a particular depth in the water gain buoyancy by inflating their swim bladder with gases produced by their blood the nervous system automatically regulates the amount of gas in the bladder so that it is kept properly filled

Special Organs Light Producing Electricity Producing many deep-sea fish have light-producing organs developed from parts of their skin or digestive tract. some species use these organs to attract prey or possibly to communicate with others of their species. Electricity Producing other fish have electricity-producing organs developed from muscles in their eyes, gills, or trunk. Some species use these organs to stun or kill enemies or prey.