Lateral line

Lateral line is a system found in aquatic vertebrates, used to detect movement and vibration in the surrounding water. It is considered a distant touch sense because it enables the organism to detect objects that are far away. The lateral line system is necessary for schooling behavior, predation, and orientation.

Anatomy

The lateral line system consists of a series of discrete sense organs called neuromasts, which are distributed along the head and body of the fish. These neuromasts are either free-standing or embedded in lateral line canals. The neuromasts consist of hair cells, similar to the ones found in the vertebrate inner ear, with their cilia projecting into a gelatinous cupula.

Function

The lateral line system allows the detection of movement, vibration, and pressure gradients in the water surrounding an animal, providing spatial awareness and the ability to navigate the environment. This system is primarily used for navigation, prey detection, predator avoidance, and social schooling.

Evolution

The lateral line system is considered to be an ancient sensory system, predating the evolution of fish. It is thought to have evolved in early aquatic vertebrates and has been maintained in most species that descended from these early forms.

See also

• Fish anatomy
• Sensory systems in fish
• Neuromast

References

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External links

• The Lateral Line System: A Review

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