Fish Circulation system
Fish possess a closed circulatory system in which blood flows
through a network of arteries, veins, and capillaries. Their circulatory
system is typically single-looped, meaning that blood passes
through the heart only once during each complete circuit of the body.
Primary Circulatory System:
►Blood flows in a single circuit: from the heart to the gills (branchial
circulation), where it is oxygenated, and then to the rest of the body
(systemic circulation).
► Oxygen-depleted blood returns to the heart for reoxygenation via
veins.
Secondary Circulation System:
► Accessory systems aid circulation in species with specialized
adaptations like accessory respiratory surfaces (e.g., skin, gut, or
cavities).
► Hagfish possess accessory inline hearts, while lungfish have a
separate pulmonary circulation, which introduces partial mixing of
oxygenated and deoxygenated blood in the heart.
Diversity in Circulatory Adaptations:
Heart Structure in Fishes
The fish heart plays a central role in blood propulsion, featuring four
chambers arranged in series:
1.Sinus Venosus:
► The first chamber receives venous blood from the body and liver
through large veins like the ducts of Cuvier.
► Its thin walls help transition smooth venous flow into a pulsed flow.
2.Atrium:
► The atrium is larger than the sinus venosus and provides the first
major boost to blood flow, emptying blood into the ventricle via the
atrioventricular valve, in a biphasic manner.
3.Ventricle: It is pyramid-shaped in elasmobranchs and conical in teleosts.
The heavy muscle and efficient geometry of the ventricle provide the main
propulsive force for circulatory flow .
► The primary pumping chamber with thick, muscular walls.
May be Composed of two layers:
1.Compact Myocardium (Cortex): Found in active fish like
tuna,sharks receiving nutrients from the coronary arteries.
2.Spongy Myocardium: Found in sluggish species and supplied by
venous blood.
► Generates the main force to propel blood through the circulatory
system.
4. Conus Arteriosus (or Bulbus Arteriosus in teleosts):
► Functions as an elastic chamber to smooth out the pulsatile flow
generated by the ventricle, ensuring continuous blood flow to the
Specialized Adaptations
1.Lungfish Circulation:
► Lungfish exhibit a partial separation of oxygenated and deoxygenated
blood in the heart due to their adaptation to air-breathing.
► Their pulmonary circulation introduces oxygenated blood from the
lungs into the left side of the heart, while venous blood from the body
enters the right side.
► Spiral ridges in the bulbus cordis maintain the separation of
oxygenated and deoxygenated blood during pumping.
2.Electrical Activity of the Myocardium:
► Fish hearts are myogenic, meaning the heartbeat is initiated by
specialized pacemaker cells rather than external neural signals.
► Electrocardiograms (ECGs) record the electrical activity, showing the
sequence of depolarization and repolarization events in the heart
chambers.
Cardiac Flow Dynamics
1.Pressure Regulation:
► Blood pressure drops significantly as it passes through the gill
capillaries. For instance, in the winter flounder, blood pressure
drops by about 24% (from 29 mm Hg in the bulbus arteriosus to
22 mm Hg in the dorsal aorta).
► The elastic properties of the bulbus arteriosus or conus
arteriosus help smooth the flow and maintain efficiency.
2.Adaptations to Hypoxia:
► Species without a compact myocardium may experience
reduced cardiac performance under low oxygen conditions, as
the spongy myocardium relies solely on venous oxygen for
supply.
► Active fish such as rainbow trout can increase coronary blood
flow during hypoxic conditions or high swimming speeds.
