Does Salmon Have Veins? A Detailed Look at Salmon Anatomy

Salmon is one of the most popular and nutritious fish consumed around the world. Rich in protein omega-3 fatty acids and various vitamins and minerals salmon provides an array of health benefits. However, when preparing salmon, many home cooks notice stringy white lines running through the pink flesh. This leads to the common question – does salmon have veins?

The short answer is yes. Salmon like all fish and animals, do have veins. However the white strands often observed in salmon fillets are not actually veins. They are a normal part of salmon anatomy known as myocommata.

In this article, we’ll take a detailed look at salmon anatomy, examine what myocommata are, discuss whether veins are safe to eat, and provide tips on how to remove veins and myocommata when preparing salmon.

An Overview of Salmon Anatomy

Salmon are bony fish that belong to the family Salmonidae. Some key aspects of salmon anatomy include:

• Skeleton – Salmon have a bony skeleton that provides structure and protection for internal organs. The skeleton is made up of the skull, backbone (vertebrae), ribs, and other bones.

• Muscles: Salmon have strong muscles on each side of their bodies that help them swim against currents and jump over waterfalls and rapids during migration. Muscles are attached to the bones by tendons.

• Skin: Salmon have scales that cover their bodies and overlap to make a barrier on their skin. The skin helps reduce friction and drag as they swim.

• Fins: Salmon have fins that help them stay stable, keep their balance, and move around while they swim. The spine, chest, pelvis, anal, adipose, and caudal (tail) fins are the main ones.

• Respiratory system – Salmon breathe through gills that extract oxygen from water and allow gas exchange. The gills are delicate structures made up of filaments filled with blood vessels.

• Circulatory system – The circulatory system transports blood, nutrients, gases, and hormones throughout the body. It is made up of the heart, arteries, veins, and capillaries.

• Digestive system – Salmon have a simple digestive system designed to break down and absorb food. The main organs are the esophagus, stomach, pyloric ceca, intestine, liver, gallbladder, and pancreas.

Now that we’ve covered the basic anatomy, let’s take a closer look at the circulatory system and the role of veins in salmon.

Do Salmon Have Veins?

Yes, salmon do have veins as part of their circulatory system. Veins are blood vessels that return blood to the heart after oxygen and nutrients have been delivered to tissues through the arteries.

Some key facts about salmon veins:

• Veins contain valves to prevent backflow of blood.

• They are located throughout the body and internal organs.

• Larger veins run along each side of the backbone.

• Smaller veins branch off to supply the muscles, skin, fins, gills, digestive organs, and more.

• Veins have thinner, less elastic walls than arteries.

• They carry blood at low pressure (except for the hepatic vein bringing blood from the liver).

What Are the White Strands in Salmon?

The white stringy lines that run through salmon fillets are not veins or nerves as many assume. They are myocommata – bundles of elongated muscle fibers enclosed in connective tissue.

Here’s a more in-depth look at myocommata in salmon:

• Purpose – Myocommata help maximize force transmission during swimming by providing an anchor point where muscles can exert force.

• Location – They run parallel to the length of the body through the muscle segments.

• Composition – Each myocomma contains muscle fibers bound together by connective tissue. This gives them a firm, rubbery texture.

• Color – Myocommata appear white or silvery compared to the surrounding pink salmon flesh.

• Size – Myocommata can range from thin strands to wide bands depending on the size and species of salmon. Chinook and coho tend to have wider bands than sockeye.

While their purpose isn’t fully understood, myocommata are a normal part of the muscle structure in all salmonid fish like trout and char as well as salmon.

Are Salmon Veins Safe to Eat?

While the white strands in salmon fillets are myocommata, not veins, some small veins may remain after filleting. This brings up the question – are salmon veins safe to eat?

The answer is yes – salmon veins are perfectly safe to consume. Here’s why:

• Veins simply transport blood, they do not store waste or toxins.

• Veins themselves are made up of harmless connective tissues.

• Cooking salmon to an internal temperature of at least 145°F kills any potentially harmful bacteria.

• Any blood remaining in the veins is not toxic or dangerous.

So while some people find the taste or texture of veins unappealing, they pose no health risks if properly cooked. Salmon veins are nutritious and can be safely eaten or removed according to personal preference.

Tips for Removing Veins and Myocommata

If you find the appearance or texture of veins and myocommata unappetizing, here are some tips for removing them when preparing salmon:

• Use a sharp, flexible knife to cut underneath the veins and gently lift them out of the flesh.

• Pull out veins in one piece if possible to avoid shredding the fillet.

• For thin veins, run your fingers along the length to loosen them before pulling out.

• Cut thicker myocommata bands out by slicing perpendicular to the fillet.

• Trim remaining small pieces of veins/myocommata by making V-shaped cuts.

• Rinse fillets after removing veins and pat dry with paper towels.

• When cooking skin-on fillets, much of the myocommata can be lifted off with the skin.

• Canned salmon has most veins removed during processing.

With some practice, you can become adept at removing salmon veins and myocommata while keeping fillets intact. It just takes some finesse with a sharp knife and your fingers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are answers to some common questions about salmon veins and myocommata:

Are the white strands nerves?

No, the white strands running through salmon are myocommata, not nerves. Nerves would be soft tissue that is destroyed during filleting.

Can veins be dissolved by soaking in buttermilk?

Unfortunately no, the connective tissue of veins cannot be broken down by soaking in buttermilk or other acidic ingredients. Manual removal is necessary to eliminate veins.

Do wild salmon have more veins than farmed?

There is no significant difference between veins in wild vs farmed salmon. Both contain small veins that can be removed. Myocommata content also does not differ notably between them.

Do I have to remove the veins and myocommata?

It’s not required to remove veins or myocommata – they are harmless and edible. But many people prefer to remove them because of the texture. It’s up to personal preference!

Does freezing or cooking break down the veins?

Freezing and cooking (even sous vide cooking for long periods) does not dissolve or break down salmon veins. The only way to remove veins is manually.

Should I remove veins before or after cooking?

It’s easier to remove intact raw salmon veins with a knife before cooking. But veins can also be pulled out after cooking – just use heat-proof gloves and gentle pulling motion along the length.

Do all types of salmon have veins?

Yes, all salmon species including Atlantic, sockeye, coho, chinook, pink, chum, etc have small veins running through their flesh. Different species may have more noticeable myocommata bands.

Do canned salmon and smoked salmon still have veins?

Canned salmon has most veins removed during processing but some may remain. Smoked salmon still contains veins that can be removed after skinning the fillet.