Which tissue forms the skeleton of sharks?

Which tissue forms the skeleton of sharks?

• A. Cartilage
• B. Bone
• C. Tendon
• D. Muscle

Answer: (A)

Cartilage forms the skeleton. It’s a tough, flexible connective tissue that is lighter than bone, which helps sharks stay buoyant and maneuverable in the water. Sharks belong to a group of fish with cartilaginous skeletons, meaning their bones aren’t mineralized like those of bony fish or mammals; the skeleton is mainly cartilage, with some areas of calcified cartilage in structures such as the jaws and vertebrae. Tendons connect muscles to the skeletal elements and help with movement, while muscles themselves generate the force for movement, but they don’t make up the supportive framework. So the tissue that forms a shark’s skeleton is cartilage.

Cartilage forms the skeleton. It’s a tough, flexible connective tissue that is lighter than bone, which helps sharks stay buoyant and maneuverable in the water. Sharks belong to a group of fish with cartilaginous skeletons, meaning their bones aren’t mineralized like those of bony fish or mammals; the skeleton is mainly cartilage, with some areas of calcified cartilage in structures such as the jaws and vertebrae. Tendons connect muscles to the skeletal elements and help with movement, while muscles themselves generate the force for movement, but they don’t make up the supportive framework. So the tissue that forms a shark’s skeleton is cartilage.