Anatomy

Electric Organ

In about 250 species of electric fishes, modified muscle fibers forming disklike multinucleate plates arranged in stacks like batteries in series and embedded in a gelatinous matrix. A large torpedo ray may have half a million plates. Muscles in different parts of the body may be modified, i.e., the trunk and tail in the electric eel, the hyobranchial apparatus in the electric ray, and extrinsic eye muscles in the stargazers. Powerful electric organs emit pulses in brief bursts several times a second. They serve to stun prey and ward off predators. A large torpedo ray can produce of shock of more than 200 volts, capable of stunning a human. (Storer et al., General Zoology, 6th ed, p672)

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

In about 250 species of electric fishes, modified muscle fibers forming disklike multinucleate plates arranged in stacks like batteries in series and embedded in a gelatinous matrix. A large torpedo ray may have half a million plates. Muscles in different parts of the body may be modified, i.e., the trunk and tail in the electric eel, the hyobranchial apparatus in the electric ray, and extrinsic eye muscles in the stargazers. Powerful electric organs emit pulses in brief bursts several times a second. They serve to stun prey and ward off predators. A large torpedo ray can produce of shock of more than 200 volts, capable of stunning a human. (Storer et al., General Zoology, 6th ed, p672)

MeSH Record

Classification

Broader headings

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MeSH Record

Synonyms

3 entry terms
  • Electric Organs
  • Organ, Electric
  • Organs, Electric

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

24 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings abnormalities, anatomy & histology, blood supply, chemistry, cytology, diagnostic imaging, drug effects, embryology, enzymology, growth & development, immunology, injuries, innervation, metabolism, microbiology, parasitology, pathology, physiology, physiopathology, radiation effects, surgery, transplantation, ultrastructure, virology.

MeSH Record

Indexing Annotation

animal only; IM

MeSH Record

History Note

68(63)

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Number

  1. A13.332w

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Electric Organ. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D004557. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D004557
  2. Electric Organ. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_organ_(fish)
  3. Electric Organ. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1327533