Anyone want to explain electric eels to me?

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Electric eels generate electric shocks through specialized cells called electrocytes, which are stacked in series to create a high voltage. They build up charge by maintaining a difference in ion concentration across their cell membranes, similar to how batteries work. The release of this charge is controlled by the nervous system, allowing the eels to decide when to discharge electricity. Electric eels can also direct their shocks to some extent, using their body position to aim. They are not harmed by their own electric discharges due to the unique structure of their electrocytes and the way their body is insulated, which protects them from the effects of the electricity they produce.
wasteofo2
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I'm really curious how electric eels can shock things and the mechanism behind it. How do they build up the charge they use? How do they controll when it's released? Can they control in what direction it's released? Where is it released from? Why doesn't it harm them at all?

Thanks for satisfying my curiosity,
Jacob
 
Biology news on Phys.org
http://soma.npa.uiuc.edu/labs/nelson/electric_fish.html
https://www.physicsforums.com/editpost.php?do=editpost&p=278149


Seems quite informative. Of course, I'm sure you can use Google too.
 
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