Frog Anatomy

General Zoology Laboratory

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 PART 1
Review of Anatomical Terms

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Review of Anatomical parts
§ DORSAL- the direction near or toward the
back.
§ VENTRAL- the direction near or toward the
belly.
§ LATERAL- the direction near or toward the
sides.
§ Dextral- the right side lateral direction.
§ Sinistral- the left side lateral direction.
§ MEDIAN- the direction near or toward the
middle. 3
Review of Anatomical terms
§ POSTERIOR- the direction near or toward the
hind end.
§ LONGITUDINAL- the direction of the axis
from the head to the tail.
§ TRANSVERSE- the direction across the long
axis.
§ CAUDAL- the part referring to the tail.
§ CRANIAL/CEPHALIC- the part referring to
the head.
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Review of Anatomical terms
ANTERIOR
POSTERIOR Regions of
DORSAL
VENTRAL the body
DISTAL
LATERAL
Location relative
MEDIAL/CENTRAL to the center of
PROXIMAL the body

FRONTAL
Planes
SAGITAL
TRANSVERSE

CAUDAL location with reference to

CRANIAL/CEPHALIC
the directions of the
PECTORAL
PELVIC body
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Review of Anatomical terms
§ PECTORAL- the part referring to the area
related to the chest.
§ PELVIC- the part referring to the hip region.
§ PROXIMAL- the part near the main mass of the
body or near a point of reference.
§ DISTAL- the part away from the main mass of
the body.
§ PERIPHERAL- the part near the surface of the
body or organ.
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Review of Anatomical terms
§ CENTRAL- the part near or at the middle of the
body organ.
§ SUPERFICIAL- the part on the outer surface of
the body or organ.
§ DEEP- the inner or below the surface of the
body or organ.
§ SUPERIOR- the part to the direction above.
§ INFERIOR- the part referring to the direction
below.
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 PART II
What is a Frog?

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WHY frog as the representative
vertebrates?

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 Something about Frogs
§ Frogs have a long fossil history, with the Early
Triassic Triadobatrachus massinoti recognized as
the earliest frog.
§ Frogs have highly specialized locomotory features
that make them instantly recognizable.
§ As with lissamphibians generally, anurans tend to
have permeable, scaleless skin, kept moist by
numerous mucous glands, that allows for
considerable cutaneous respiration.

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 Something about Frogs
§ Most obvious perhaps are that the body is rigid,
short, and wide, the hind limbs are long and,
familiarly though not exclusively, used for jumping,
and the tail is absent.
§ This feature that the group owes its name: Anuran is
derived from the ancient Greek words meaning
“without” (an) and “tail” (oura).

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 WHY frogs?
§ Frogs are typical amphibians which have been
commonly chosen as representative lab animals for
basic anatomical and physiological investigation.
Cheaper and practically whole year round
available, easy to handle for dissection and can best
compare with man except for a few salient features.
(Hidalgo, 1989).

§ Although frogs are commonly used in vertebrate

dissection courses, it is worth remembering that, as
vertebrates, they are neither primitive nor typical—they
are just readily available. 13
 WHY frogs?
§ Without the use of comparative studies of animals,
practical medicine could never acquire scientific
results. Thus, knowledge of the structure of an
organism is PREREQUISITE to an understanding of
its phylogeny, behavior and relationship with the
environment.

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Frog species of the Philippines

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 HOW to pith a frog

§ Pithing, by definition is the destruction of the

central nervous system by piercing the brain or spinal
cord. This procedure is used in animal
experimentation to render the animal unconscious o
that it feels no pain.
§ Single Pithing- the brain is primarily destroyed.
§ Double Pithing- the brain and the spinal cord is severely
damaged. (Usually double pithing is used).

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HOW to pith a frog

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 HOW to pith a frog

1. hold the animal in a paper towel with its dorsal side up and with
the index finger pressing the nose down so that the head make a
right angle with the trunk.
2. Locate the slight depression formed by the first vertebra and skull
about 3mm behind the line joining the posterior borders of the
tympanic membrane. This groove represent the are of he foramen
magnum.
3. Carefully insert a long sharp-tipped need or probe intro the
foramen magnum and direct it forward and a little downward.
4. Exert a stead pressure and rotate it, moving it from side to side in
the cranial cavity to destroy the brain.

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 PART III
External Features of a Frog

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 Male or Female?
MALE PHYSICAL FEMALE
TRAITS

Darkened skin, PIGMENTATION Diffused

concentrated pigments on the
near the angles ventral side.
of the lower
jaw,

Swollen THUMB/NUPTIAL No distinctive

PAD
enlarged swelling

Sexually MATURITY Larger by

mature male physical
(frogs) are appearance
smaller than
female
America et al., (2002) Introduction to Biology
Laboratory Manual 20
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External Features of the Frog
q Head:
1. Snout – anterior prolongation of the triangular head
2. External nares – slit-like opening. Continuous with the
choanae (internal nares) within the mouth.
3. Mouth – a large posterior opening lined with ventral and
dorsal fold.
4. Ears – tympanic membrane – covering of the eardrum
5. Eyes – located posterior to the nostril
ü Upper eyelid – borders the dorsal side; immovable
ü Lower eyelid – borders the ventral side; immovable; thinner than
upper eyelid
ü Third eyelid (nictitating membrane) – thin and transparent that
is continuous with the inner fold of the lower eyelid. allows the
frog to see underwater
ü Brow spot – circular spot at the anterior level of the eyes.

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External Features of the Frog
q Trunk
1. Mid – dorsal line – prominent line(demarcation)
that divides the body symmetrically
2. Hump – prominent protrusion (elevation) in the
mid part of the trunk
3. Cloacal opening – common to both digestive
tract and urogenital system.

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External Features of the Frog
q Axial
1. Mid – dorsal line – prominent line(demarcation)
that divides the body symmetrically
2. Hump – prominent protrusion (elevation) in the
mid part of the trunk
3. Cloacal opening – common to both digestive
tract and urogenital system.

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External parts of the Frog

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External parts of the Frog

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External Features of the Frog
q Trunk – merges with the body
bears a forelimbs and hind limbs
q Cavities in the body
ØCranial cavity – houses the brain
ØOrbital cavity – encloses the eye
ØNasal cavity – pair which open into the mouth
ØBuccal cavity – encloses tongue and teeth
ØSpinal cavity – encloses the spinal cord
ØThoracic cavity – encloses heart and lungs
ØAbdominal cavity – encloses visceral organs
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External Features of the Frog

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External Features of the Frog
q Appendicular – region composed of the
forelimbs and the hindlimbs.
1. Forelimbs- located at the anterior side of the body.
Shorter in size compared to the hindlibs. Each forelimb is
made up of only 4 digits and a rudimentary fifth digit.
2. Hindlimbs. These are longer than the appendages of the
forg at the posterior side of its body.
§ Adapted for jumping and swimming.
§ Prehallux- as the rudimendary sixth, digit.
§ Connected by a membranous skin-extension of the
Web.
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§ A well observable elongated Ankle.
Parts of the Appendages

FORELIMBS HINDLIMBS
Upper Arm Thigh
Forearm Shank

Manus (hand) Pes (foot)

Carpus (wrist) Tarsus (ankle)
Palm Sole
Phalanges/ Digits Phalanges/Digits
(fingers) (toes)

America et al., (2002) Introduction to Biology Laboratory Manual

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 Guide Questions
4. Give the differences between a man’s mouth
and a frog’s mouth. Support with evidences.
-a human’s mouth is accomplished to grind/chew or decrease
the food in smaller parts by the set of enamelized and calcified
teeth. The vomerine and premaxillary and maxillary teeth
works in a synergy to push the frog’s prey deep in the buccal
cavity.
8. Why are frogs classified as chordates?
Support your answer with evidences.
- with the presence of a dorsal spinal chord encased in a series
of repeating bone called the spinal column. 32
 PART IV
Muscle System of the Frog

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Frog muscles: lateral view

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Frog Dorsal view
Frog shoulder lateral view

Muscles contrasted
6 10
Tympanic 5
membrane

4. Masseter
5. Depressor mandibularis
6. Dorsalis scapulae
Frog shoulder dorsal view

Muscles contrasted

6
5
10
2

4
7

2. Pterygoideus
4. forMasseter
Mouse click once key
5. Depressor mandibularis
Anterior Dorsal view
Muscles contrasted

2. Pterygoideus
3. Temporal
4. Masseter
5. Depressor
mandibularis
6. Dorsalis scapulae
2 10. Latissimus dorsi
11. Longissimus dorsi
14. External oblique
Legs lateral muscles

17. Gluteus
18. Piriformis
20. Triceps femoris
25. Gracilis minor
26. Gastrocnemius
27. Tendon of Achilles
28. Semimembranous
29. Biceps femoris
Ventral muscles

7. Deltoid
9. Pectoralis
13. Linea alba
20. Triceps femoris
21. Adductor magnus
22. Sartorius
24. Gracilis major
25. Gracilis minor
26. Gastrocnemius
27. Tendon of Achilles
30. Mylohoid
Frog ventral anterior muscles
Muscles contrasted

7. Deltoid
• Pectoralis
12. Rectus abdominis
13. Linea alba
14. External oblique
 Muscle index

Frog medial leg

Muscles contrasted

20. Triceps femoris

21. Adductor magnus
22. Sartorius
24. Gracilis major
26. Gastrocnemius
Legs medial muscles

19. Adductor longus

20. Triceps femoris
21. Adductor magnus
22. Sartorius
23. Not shown here
24. Gracilis major
25. Gracilis minor
26. Gastrocnemius
27. Tendon Achilles
 Medial leg muscles (deep)
Sartorius (cut)

Adductor longus (cut)

Triceps femoris

Adductor magnus
Gracilis major

Gracilis minor

Semitendinosus (double
belly)

12. Rectus abdominis

• External oblique
23. Semitendinosus
19. Adductor longus 24. Gracilis major
20. Triceps femoris 26. Gastrocnemius
21. Adductor magnus
22. Sartorius
28. Semimebranosus
 PART V
Digestive System

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Digestive System

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 Digestive System of the Frog
1. Is used to take in food, break it down into small
particles which can be absorbed into the blood &
eliminate waste.
Intracellular digestion is digestion which takes
place within the cytoplasm of the organism, as in
many unicellular protozoans.
Extracellular digestion - It takes place within the
lumen of the digestive system, and the resulting
nutrient molecules are transferred into the blood or
body fluids.
Digestive System of the Frog
2. Phases of digestion:
Mechanical digestion: breaking of foods into small pieces by
the action of teeth & tongue
Chemical digestion: mixing of the small pieces of food
with saliva with enzymatic actions.
3. Parts of the digestive system:
GIT - Composed of oral cavity, oropharynx, esophagus,
stomach, small intestine, large intestine, & rectum
Accessory organs - Teeth
Salivary glands
Pancreas
Liver
Gall bladder
Digestive System of the Frog
4. the pharynx or throat have several openings: one
into the esophagus, the tube into which food is
swallowed; one into the glottis, through which
air enters the larynx, or voice box.
5. The tongue of the frog is a modified organ that
extends trice its usual size non-contracted form.
Prey becomes attached to the ends of the tongue
by sticking to the mucus secretion.
Digestive System of the Frog
6. The tongue is positioned to the anterior side to
constrict the tongue and release a tensioned force
to catch a prey in a rapid rate. The constriction
once released, flaps the tongue and with the
secretion, attaches the prey for the frog to feed
on.
7. Eustachian tube. equalize pressure in inner ear.
8. Glottis. tube leading to the lungs. a flapping
organ that separates ingested matter from
entering the lungs.
Digestive System of the Frog
9. Maxillary teeth - row of teeth along the outer
border of the upper jaw, hold food and grip
tightly
Vomerine teeth - located between the internal
nares, serve to prevent the escape of prey.
10. Internal nares. frog can breath through these
with it's mouth closed, can be opened or closed
with sphincter muscles
External nares
external nostril opening
Digestive System of the Frog
11. Digestive tract
used for physical break down of foods
System of organs within multicellular animals
which takes in food, digests it to extract energy
and nutrients, and expels the remaining waste.
Accessory organs
All assist in mechanical and chemical digestion.
 Digestive System of the Frog
12. Cloaca
* common receptacle for the wastes of the rectum
13. Common bile duct
* is a tube-like anatomic structure in the
human gastrointestinal tract.
* formed by the union of the common hepatic
duct and the cystic duct and pancreatic duct
* for conduction of enzymes/products of the liver
and pancreas.
 Digestive System of the Frog
14. Via common bile duct.
15. Liver
* bile – emulsifies fats
16. Pancreatic enzymes
* Proteases – for protein digestion
* Lipase – transport and processing of dietary
lipids like triglycerides, fats, oils
* Amylase - hydrolyses starch to maltose
 PART VI
Urogenital System

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Urogenital System

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 PART VII
Circulatory & Respiratory
System

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