What are Neuromast cells?

Neuromasts consist of sensory cells, which detect water movement by deflection of cilia, and associated support and mantle cells. Neuromasts are innervated by axons extending from ganglia located in the head.

What is the function of Neuromast organ?

The neuromast is a mechanoreceptive organ which allows the sensing of mechanical changes in water. There are two main varieties of neuromasts located in animals, canal neuromasts and superficial or freestanding neuromasts.

Do all fishes have neuromasts?

All of the primarily aquatic vertebrates—cyclostomes (e.g., lampreys), fish, and amphibians—have in their…… … (except some amphibians) is the lateral line system.

What’s the function of the lateral line?

The lateral line is a sensory system that allows fishes to detect weak water motions and pressure gradients.

Which is the best definition of a neuromast?

Definition of neuromast. : one of the characteristic sensory organs of the lateral lines of fishes and various other lower vertebrates consisting of a cluster of sensory cells connected with nerve fibers.

Where does the neuromast occur in a fish?

a group of innervated sensory cells occurring along the lateral line of fishes and aquatic amphibians.

What kind of sensory organ is a neuromast?

: one of the characteristic sensory organs of the lateral lines of fishes and various other lower vertebrates consisting of a cluster of sensory cells connected with nerve fibers.

How are hair cells oriented in a neuromast?

All of the hair cells within a neuromast are oriented 180° to one another, thus defining the neuromast’s axis of best physiological sensitivity to water flows ( Figure 3 ). Figure 1. Schematic drawing of a superficial neuromast in Nile tilapia, Sarotherodon niloticus (m = mantle cells; s = supporting cells, h = hair cells). Scale = 10 μm.