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Nervous Anatomy
Cranial Nerves
Nervi craniales
The paired nerves emerging directly from the brain - carrying sensory input from eyes, nostrils, lateral line, and mouth.
Region: Head Universal in fish Unique to: all
📖 Overview
Fish possess 10 pairs of cranial nerves (mammals have 12). These carry olfactory, optic, gustatory, and lateral-line inputs to the brain and control jaw and gill movements. The lateral-line nerves are particularly enlarged in fish - not present in terrestrial vertebrates.
✨ Fun Fact
The facial nerve of a catfish is dominated by taste input - matching the fact that catfish skin is essentially a taste organ.
🔗 Related Nervous Structures