movement
Dolphins move by swimming. They are able to move because of 3 different systems, the skeletal, nervous and muscular system.
Skeletal
The skeleton of the dolphin has four principal functions: it shapes and supports the animal’s body, it protects vital internal organs such as the brain, heart and lungs, it allows movement of body parts such as the head and limbs, and it enables the movement of the whole animal.
Skeletal
The skeleton of the dolphin has four principal functions: it shapes and supports the animal’s body, it protects vital internal organs such as the brain, heart and lungs, it allows movement of body parts such as the head and limbs, and it enables the movement of the whole animal.
As seen in the image above, the dolphin has many features to its skeletal system. Some of the these features are its back bone, skull, rib, teeth and jaw. The skull’s primary function is to protect the brain. Its backbone acts as a firm bar that supports the dolphin’s weight.
Common dolphins have 75 vertebrae, more than most other mammals. Extra vertebrae in its tail provide the muscle attachments and flexibility required for swimming.
Common dolphins have 75 vertebrae, more than most other mammals. Extra vertebrae in its tail provide the muscle attachments and flexibility required for swimming.
Muscular system
The movement of the bones of the skeleton are possible because of lots of sets of muscles that work against each other. The contractions of one set of muscles moves a bone in one direction and the contraction of another set moves it in the opposite direction.
The movement of the bones of the skeleton are possible because of lots of sets of muscles that work against each other. The contractions of one set of muscles moves a bone in one direction and the contraction of another set moves it in the opposite direction.
Nervous system
Dolphins have a nervous system that is responsible for fast coordinating activities within the body and for responding to the environmental changes outside the body. Coordination is brought about by electrical impulses that travel along nerve cells called neurons. They are pushed together to form nerves.
The nervous system is divided into the central nervous system (CNS) which contains the brain and spinal cords; the peripheral nervous system (PNS) has the nerves that connect the central nervous system with the sensory organs, such as the eyes and ears, and also with responding structures (effectors) such as muscles and glands.
Dolphins have a nervous system that is responsible for fast coordinating activities within the body and for responding to the environmental changes outside the body. Coordination is brought about by electrical impulses that travel along nerve cells called neurons. They are pushed together to form nerves.
The nervous system is divided into the central nervous system (CNS) which contains the brain and spinal cords; the peripheral nervous system (PNS) has the nerves that connect the central nervous system with the sensory organs, such as the eyes and ears, and also with responding structures (effectors) such as muscles and glands.