Fish Anatomy and Physiology Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards based on fish anatomy and physiology for student review.

OSTEICHTHYES

Jawed fish with skeletons composed of bone.

OPERCULUM

Hard plate that covers, protects and works like a pump to circulate water over the gills.

CARTILAGE

Lightweight strong flexible tissue.

NEPHRONS

Tube-like units that regulate body salt and water levels.

AGNATHANS

Jawless fish, such as hagfish or lampreys.

VENTRICLE

Second chamber of the heart that pumps blood to the gills to pick up oxygen.

SCALE

Hard plate-like structure on the skin of most fishes.

GILL-FILAMENTS

Finger-like projections through which gases are exchanged.

CHONDRICHTHYES

Cartilaginous jawed fishes.

SPAWNING

Type of external fertilization that most fish use, where sperm and egg are released near to one another.

SINGLE-LOOP

Type of circulation of blood that fish have.

SWIM-BLADDER

A special gas-filled sac that bony fish use to stay buoyant.

VERTEBRAE

Individual segments that make up a backbone.

LATERAL-LINE

Sensory system that extends along the side of a bony fish's body.

LOBE-FINNED

Fleshy fins supported by a central core of bones.

ATRIUM

The first chamber of the fish heart that pumps blood to the ventricle.