Gill Arch (Noun)
Meaning
One of the bony or cartilaginous arches on each side of the pharynx that support the gills of fishes and aquatic amphibians.
Classification
Nouns denoting animals.
Examples
- In a typical fish, the gill arch provides vital support for the gill filaments and helps with the process of respiration.
- The gill arch is a key component of the respiratory system in many aquatic animals, including some species of amphibians.
- Developmental biologists have long been fascinated by the formation and structure of the gill arch in embryonic fish.
- Specialized bony plates called opercula usually cover and protect the gill arch, allowing for efficient gas exchange to occur.
- Comparative anatomy reveals that the gill arch in modern fish is homologous to the jaw of terrestrial vertebrates.