Swim bladder
Swim Bladder
The Swim Bladder (pronunciation: /swɪm ˈblædər/), also known as the Gas Bladder or Air Bladder, is an internal gas-filled organ that contributes to the ability of a fish to control its buoyancy, and thus to stay at the current water depth without having to waste energy in swimming.
Etymology
The term "Swim Bladder" is derived from the Old English "swimman", meaning to move smoothly and rapidly, and the Middle English "bladdre", meaning a bag-like organ in the body.
Function
The primary function of the swim bladder is to allow the fish to control their buoyancy and to stabilize the fish at different depths in the water without it having to expend energy in swimming. The swim bladder does this by varying the amount of gas it contains, in order to adjust the density of the fish.
Anatomy
The swim bladder is located in the dorsal portion of the fish, beneath the spine. It is derived from an outpocketing of the digestive tract. It contains gas (usually oxygen) and its walls secrete a silvery inner coating of guanine crystals, which can be seen through the thin walls of the bladder.
Related Terms
- Buoyancy: The ability or tendency to float in water or air or some other fluid.
- Guanine: One of the four main nucleobases found in the nucleic acids DNA and RNA.
- Digestive Tract: The series of organs in the digestive system through which food passes, nutrients are extracted, and waste is eliminated.
- Spine: The series of vertebrae extending from the skull to the small of the back, enclosing the spinal cord and providing support for the thorax and abdomen; the backbone.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Swim bladder
- Wikipedia's article - Swim bladder
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