What is Lateral line?
[[Image:Sharks Lateral Line.svg|right|300px|thumb|The lateral line sensory organ, in this case shown on a [[shark]]]] The '''lateral line''' is a system of [[sense]] organs found in [[fish]], and not in land vertebrates. It detects movement and [[vibration]] in the surrounding water. Modified [[epithelium|epithelial cells]], known as [[hair cells]], respond to changes around the fish. These [[signal transduction|turn]] the changes into electrical impulses which go to their [[central nervous system]]. Lateral lines are used in [[Shoaling and schooling|schooling]], predation, and orientation. For example, fish use their lateral line system to follow the [[vortex|vortices]] produced by fleeing prey. They are faint lines running lengthwise down each side, from the [[Gill|gill cover]]s to the base of the tail. In some species, the receptive organs of the lateral line have been modified to function as [[electroreceptor]]s, which are organs used to detect electrical impulses. Most [[amphibian]] [[larva]]e and some fully aquatic adult amphibians have systems which work a bit like the lateral line.<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1007/BF00612711 |title=A lateral line analogue in cephalopods: Water waves generate microphonic potentials in the epidermal head lines of ''Sepia'' and ''Lolliguncula'' |year=1988 |last1=Budelmann |first1=Bernd U. |last2=Bleckmann |first2=Horst |journal=Journal of Comparative Physiology A |volume=164 |pages=1–5 |pmid=3236259 |issue=1|s2cid=8834051 }}</ref> [[File:LateralLine Organ.jpg|standing=2.5|frameless|upright=2|left]] {{clear}} == References == {{reflist}} [[Category:Fish]] [[Category:Sensory system]]