The lateral line system consists of bendable nerve endings in a series of mucous-filled canals Vibrations in the water or differential pressure in different parts of the canal cause the fluid to move and distort the nerve endings.
Because of it's name, we think of the lateral-line system as being oriented laterally on
the fish.Closer inspection shows a concentration of sensory receptors on the head
branching into 4 lines.The occipital,The supraorbital, The suborbital and The
hyomandibular.
The lateral line system enables detection of both vibrations in the water and changes in the pressure field set up as the fish swims. It provides information to the fish about movements of nearby organisms, very-low-frequency sound, differential current velocity, and back pressure built up as the fish approaches an obstacle.The lateral line sense is sufficiently directional to enable blinded fish to find and capture prey.
A swimming fish sets up a pressure wave in the water that is detectable by the lateral line systems of other fishes. It also sets up a bow wave in front of itself, the pressure of which is higher than that of the wave flow along its sides. These near-field differences are registered by its own lateral line system. As the fish approaches an object, such as a rock or the glass wall of an aquarium, the pressure waves around its body are distorted, and these changes are quickly detected by the lateral line system, enabling the fish to swerve or to take other suitable action. Because sound waves are waves of pressure, the lateral line system is also able to detect very low-frequency sounds of 100 Hz or less.
Because of it's name, we think of the lateral-line system as being oriented laterally on
the fish.Closer inspection shows a concentration of sensory receptors on the head
branching into 4 lines.The occipital,The supraorbital, The suborbital and The
hyomandibular.
The lateral line system enables detection of both vibrations in the water and changes in the pressure field set up as the fish swims. It provides information to the fish about movements of nearby organisms, very-low-frequency sound, differential current velocity, and back pressure built up as the fish approaches an obstacle.The lateral line sense is sufficiently directional to enable blinded fish to find and capture prey.
A swimming fish sets up a pressure wave in the water that is detectable by the lateral line systems of other fishes. It also sets up a bow wave in front of itself, the pressure of which is higher than that of the wave flow along its sides. These near-field differences are registered by its own lateral line system. As the fish approaches an object, such as a rock or the glass wall of an aquarium, the pressure waves around its body are distorted, and these changes are quickly detected by the lateral line system, enabling the fish to swerve or to take other suitable action. Because sound waves are waves of pressure, the lateral line system is also able to detect very low-frequency sounds of 100 Hz or less.
