Anatomy of finfish and shellfish

Unit 6 - Respiratory system in fishes

6.2.4. Gill raker
It occurs in two rows on the inner margin of each gill arch. Each gill arch is short stumpy structure supported by bony elements (fig3, a & b). The gill arch projects across the pharyngeal opening. They are modified in relation to food and feeding habits. The mucous cells of the epithelium help to remove sediments from the covering epithelium in order to enable the taste buds to function effectively and to sense the chemical nature of food passing through the gill sieve.