Branchiostegal apparatus

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Head skeleton of a perch, the Branchiostegal rays can be seen on the underside of the head (br)

The Branchiostegalapparat is a structure of the (bone) fish skull , which consists of the Branchiostegalmembrane and a series of long, curved bony Branchiostegal rays ( Radii branchiostegi ), which attach to the hyoid bone (hyoid) and support it. The membrane lies at the bottom in front of the gill cover and seals the gill space from the abdomen. The membranes of the two sides of the head can either be free, connected to one another or grown together with the "throat". The number of Branchiostegal rays can be used to differentiate between species ( Elops has up to 40, carp only 3; rarely all are missing).

The Branchiostegalapparat is involved in breathing and the acquisition of food (see fish mouth ) by creating a water flow over the gills with the help of the muscles attached to the Branchiostegaljays, but especially to the hyoid and the gill cover.

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