THE GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT OF FISH

503 SYSTEMIC PHARMACOLOGY IN FISH

PRESENTED TO PRESENTED BY
TAMESHWAR
Dr. K.V. FISH PHARMACOLOGY
Venkateshwaran, AND TOXICOLOGY
M.V.Sc, PhD M.F.Sc 1st YEAR
WHAT IS DIGESTIVE SYSTEM

• Digestive system is a group of organs working together to

convert food into energy and basic nutrients to feed the
entire body
• The digestion process of fish is somewhat different than the
terrestrial animals.
• Mouth Buccal cavity Pharynx Esophagus
Stomach Pyloric caeca Intestine Pancreas
liver Rectum Anus
FEEDING

Based on the nature of the food ingested, fish are usually

categorized into:
 Herbivores: feeding largely on plant material
 Detrivores: feeding largely on detritus
 Omnivores: consuming a mixture diet
 Carnivores: consuming only animal matter

Herbivores
• <5% of all bony fishes, no cartilaginous fishes
• Eat only the plant
 DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
Mouth
Buckle cavity
Pharynx
Esophagus
Stomach
Pylorus
Pyloric caeca
Intestine and
anus
Pancreatic tissue
(exocrine and
endocrine), liver,
gall bladder
Cont..
Trout
Carnivore

Catfish
carnivore

Carp
omnivore

Milkfish
Planktivore
Mouth

• Mouth and
pharyngeal
cavity

• Jaws

• Teeth- jaw,
mouth,
pharyngeal
• Gill racers
OESOPHAGUS

The esophagus
 Commonly referred to as the gullet
 Short, expandable
 Notclearly demarcated from the
stomach, or intestine in stomach less
fish.
Function
 Food storage
 Trituration and muscle secretion
 STOMACH
• In herbivorous fishes no
stomach.
• The pylorus is a sphincter
that prevents premature
movement of the food
bolus out of the stomach.
ST: Stomach, PC: Pyloric caeca, F: Proximal
• Around the pylorus, many intestine, M: Mid intestine, B: Distal intestine,
fish have out-pocketing HC: Fermentation chamber
pyloric caeca
 INTESTINE
• Digestive tract is
3x whole body
length
• The intestine is
lined with finger-
like out
pocketing(villi)
increase the
surface area for
absorption.
IB: intestinal bulb, PI: proximal intestine,
MI: mid intestine, DI: Distal intestine,
 PANCREAS AND LIVER
Pancreas
• Primary source of digestive
enzyme
• Around the pyloric caeca(or in that
same area in fish lacking them is
pancreatic tissue.
Function
• Exocrine secretion of digestive
enzyme.(protease, lipase, and
carbohydrates into the intestine.
• Endocrine secretion of the
hormones insulin and glucagon.
LIVER

• Produced bile which is stored in the gallbladder

• Bile contain salt, cholesterol, phospholipids, pigments, etc.
• Bile has a digestive function in that it emulsifies lipids, greatly
increasing their absorption in the intestine
• The liver is key in the anabolism and catabolism of amino acid
and is also the site of storage of food energy in the form of
glycogen
ABSORPTION

• Absorption is the taking up of the compounds by the

either through the stomach lining or through the
intestinal walls.
• The digested food material is thrown out as excreta
or faecal matter.