WordNet-Online
Free dictionary and thesaurus of English. Definitions, synonyms, antonyms and more...
Hint: double-click any word to get it searched!

	Enter your search terms Submit search form
	Web www.wordnet-online.com

Definitions from WordNet

Definitions from the Web

Gill Cleft

Description:

A gill cleft refers to the anatomical structure found in fish and other aquatic organisms that allows them to extract oxygen from the water.

In fishes, gill clefts are located on both sides of the head and are often covered by gill covers.

Senses:

1. Biological Sense:

In a biological sense, the gill cleft is a specific opening or slit-like structure in fish, through which water passes, allowing oxygen to be extracted from it using gill filaments.

Gill clefts function as the primary respiratory organs in fish and are crucial for their survival in the aquatic environment.

Example sentence: The fish hovered motionless in the water, its gill clefts rhythmically opening and closing as it breathed.

2. Embryological Sense:

In embryology, the term "gill cleft" refers to a series of external grooves or groovelike depressions in the neck region of human embryos.

These structures develop in the early stages of embryo formation but are not functional respiratory organs in humans.

Example sentence: During human embryonic development, the gill clefts appear transiently before being transformed into other structures.

Related Products:

Explore related products on Amazon:

• Fish Aquarium
• Aquatic Organisms
• Marine Biology