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Shark Anatomy

The skeleton of a shark is very different from that of bony fishes such as cod; it is made from cartilage, which is very light and flexible, although the cartilage in older sharks can sometimes be partly calcified, making it harder and more bone-like.

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Head

 foremost part of a shark, comprising the skull and face.

First dorsal fin

 front locomotive limb on the back of a shark.

Second dorsal fin

 rear locomotive limb on the back of a shark.

Caudal fin

 locomotive limb at the end of a shark.

Pelvic fin

 locomotive limb beneath the pelvic girdle of a shark.

Belly

 lower part of the trunk of a shark.

Pectoral fin

 locomotive limb on the chest of a shark.

External gill openings

 gill slit.

Mouth

 entrance to the digestive tract of a shark.

Eye

 sight organ of a shark.

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Parietal muscles

 set of muscles of the side of the head.

Vertebra

 each of the bones forming the spinal column.

Neural arch

 arched part of a vertebra related to the nervous system.

Body

 main part of a vertebra.

Dorsal fin

 locomotive limb on the back of a shark.

Anterior intestine

 part of the digestive tract just after the stomach.

Stomach

 part of the digestive tract of a shark between the front and rear parts of the intestine.

Kidney

 blood-purifying organ.

Spinal cord

 part of the nervous system contained in the spinal column.

Cord

 outlined part of the spinal column.

Caudal fin

 locomotive limb at the end of a shark.

Cloaca

 opening shared by the genital organs, the urinary and intestinal tracts.

Pelvic fin

 locomotive limb situated beneath the pelvic girdle of a shark.

Posterior intestine

 part of the digestive tract just after the stomach.

Liver

 bile-producing digestive gland.

Pectoral fin

 locomotive limb on the chest of a shark.

Heart

 blood-pumping organ.

Ventral aorta

 blood vessel in the abdomen that carries blood from the heart to other organs.

Inner spiracle openings

 fissure containing the viscera.

Mouth

 entrance to the digestive tract.

Pharynx

 intersection of the respiratory and digestive tracts of a shark.

Encephalon

 seat of the mental capacities of a shark.

Skull

 bony case of the brain.

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