Hereâs one of the more well known areas of shark anatomy. 1  The fins of a shark are easily recognizable, and immensely important. Most sharks have five different types of fins, while some sharks only have four. These types of fins include: 2  Pectoral. 3  Pelvic. 4  Dorsal. 5  Anal. 6  Caudal.
spinal column. n. 1. (Anatomy) a series of contiguous or interconnecting bony or cartilaginous segments that surround and protect the spinal cord. Also called: spine, vertebral column or rachis Nontechnical name: backbone.
For other uses, see Vertebra (disambiguation). In the vertebrate spinal column, each vertebra is an irregular bone with a complex structure composed of bone and some hyaline cartilage, the proportions of which vary according to the segment of the backbone and the species of vertebrate. The basic configuration of a vertebra varies; the large part is the body, and the central part is the centrum.