The
lateral line is a system of
sense organs found in aquatic vertebrates, mainly
fish, used to detect movement and vibration in the surrounding water. The sensory ability is achieved via modified
epithelial cells, known as
hair cells, which respond to displacement caused by motion and
transduce these signals into electrical impulses via
excitatory synapses. Lateral lines serve an important role in
schooling behavior, predation, and orientation. For example, fish can use their lateral line system to follow the
vortices produced by fleeing prey. They are usually visible as faint lines running lengthwise down each side, from the vicinity of the
gill covers to the base of the tail. In some species, the receptive organs of the lateral line have been modified to function as
electroreceptors, which are organs used to detect electrical impulses, and as such these systems remain closely linked. Most
amphibian larvae and some fully aquatic adult amphibians possess
mechanosensitive systems comparable to the lateral line.