How do sharks use the ampules?

Ampullae of Lorenzini, also called electroreceptors, are highly sensitive sense organs found in sharks, rays, and some bony fish. They are used to detect electrical fields and are essential for the shark's ability to find prey, navigate, and sense its environment.

The ampullae of Lorenzini are located in small pits or pores on the shark's head and along its body. Each ampulla consists of a jelly-filled canal that leads to a sensory cell. The canal is lined with epithelial cells that produce mucus, which helps to conduct electrical signals.

When an electrical field is present in the water, it causes the ions in the mucus to move, which in turn creates a electrical potential difference across the epithelial cells. This difference in potential triggers a nerve impulse, which is sent to the shark's brain. The shark can then interpret the electrical signal and determine the direction and intensity of the electrical field.

The ampullae of Lorenzini are extremely sensitive and can detect electrical fields as weak as one millionth of a volt. This allows sharks to find prey that is buried in the sand or hidden in murky water. They can also use the ampullae of Lorenzini to navigate by detecting the electrical fields created by the Earth's magnetic field.

The ampullae of Lorenzini are an important part of the shark's sensory system and play a vital role in its ability to survive and hunt.