Frog Dissection

 External
 Internal

TERMS TO KNOW:

Dorsal— the back or upper surface of an

organism
Ventral— the stomach or lower surface of an
organism
Anterior— head end of an organism
Posterior—tail end of an organism
Determine if your frog is a Male or Female

The sex of a frog may be determined externally by

examining the thumb pads on the front feet. The
thumb pads of males are enlarged at the base as in the
drawing on the right.
External Anatomy of the Frog
Nictitating Membrane
 Internal Mouthparts
• Maxillary teeth –around the upper edge of
the jaw;
• Vomerine teeth - used to hold the prey and
keep it in place
• Eustachian tube - Openings in the mouth -
lead to ear – equalize air pressure.
• Glottis - opening at back of mouth leads to
lungs; gas exchange
• Esophagus - Tube - connects the mouth to
the stomach
• Tongue – attached at front of mouth –
Extends to catch insects
Internal Anatomy of the Frog

Incisions for dissection

• Place frog with ventral side up
• Make a longitudinal cut starting
between the hind legs and going
anteriorly to the tip of the jaw
• Make lateral cuts behind front legs
and in front of hind legs
• First cut through the skin; repeat the
incisions through the muscle layer
Functions of the Frog Heart

• Right Atrium - Chamber of

the frog’s heart which
receives blood from the
sinus venosus.
• Left Atrium - The chamber
of the heart that receives
blood from the lungs.
• Ventricle - Chamber of a
frog’s heart that pumps
blood out of the heart to
the lungs and other parts
of the body.
SPLEEN

Produces and stores new RBC’s and

processes old worn out ones
Functions of the Frog Respiratory
Organs

LUNGS:
GAS
EXCHANGE
Functions of the Frog Digestive Organs
Functions of the Frog Digestive Organs
Functions of the Frog Digestive
Organs
• Pancreas - Gland which
secretes digestive enzymes
into the duodenum to break
down sugars and proteins.
Functions of the Frog Digestive
Organs
Functions of the Urogenital Organs
• The kidneys of a frog, like many
other animals, filter the blood
and excretes excess water. The
ureters then carry the urine
from the kidneys to the urinary
bladder.
• Bladder– collects and stores
urine until released – found
near cloaca Bladder
Functions of the Urogenital Organs
• Ova or Eggs - Female sex cell or
gametes
• Ovaries - Organs of the female
reproductive system that
produce the eggs.
• Oviducts - Tubes of a female
frog’s reproductive system that
carry eggs from the ovaries to
the cloaca.
Functions of the Urogenital Organs
• Testes - Male sex organs that
produce sex cells (sperm).
• Sperm - Male sex cell or
gametes.
Functions of the Frog Brain
• Spinal Cord - Main pathway to and
from the brain
• Olfactory Lobe - Part of the frog’s brain
associated with the sense of smell
• Cerebrum - Part of the brain that is
associated with memory, pain, and
voluntary muscle control.
• Optic Lobes - Part of the brain
associated with vision.
• Cerebellum - Part of a brain that
influences balance and equilibrium.
Frog Skeletal System