EXTERNAL ANATOMY OF THE FROG

Jeremy G. Vicencio
Department of Biology (UPM-CAS)
1st Semester, A.Y. 2010-2011

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 Why do we study frogs?

1. They show both primitive and advanced

vertebrate structures
2. The position of their internal organs is similar
to that of humans
3. They are small and readily available
External Anatomy of the Frog
 External Anatomy of the Frog

Part Description/Function
External nares Located near the snout or tip of the head, leads to the
olfactory organs within
(Dorsal) Upper eyelid Immovable
(Ventral) Lower eyelid Can close over the entire eye
Nictitating membrane Movable translucent lower eyelid, protects the eye when
the frog is underwater and serves to moisten the eye
when it is on land
Browspot Located at the top of the head between the eyes which
has the diameter of about a pin, a remnant of a median,
light-sensitive eye that characterized primitive groups of
fishes and amphibians
Tympanic membrane Disc-shaped area posterior to each eye, eardrum/outer
ear
 External Anatomy of the Frog

Part Description/Function
Cloacal aperture Combined orifice of the digestive and urogenital tracts at the
posterior end of the trunk just dorsal to the junction of the hind
legs
Forelimbs Emerge from the chest region behind the head, extends into
three distinct regions: brachium (upper arm), antebrachium
(forearm), manus (hand)
Manus Comprised of the carpus (wrist), metacarpus (palm), and four
digits or fingers
Hindlimbs Emerge from the waist region and can be partitioned into: thigh
(upper leg), shank/crus (lower leg), pes (long foot)
Foot Divided into tarsus (long ankle), metatarsus (instep), and five
fully-webbed toes or digits
Prehallux or calcar Rudiment of the sixth missing toe, appears medially to the first
toe as a small spur-like outgrowth
 External Anatomy of the Frog

Part Description/Function
Vocal Sac Sound-resonating throat pouch of male frogs and toads. They are
outpocketings of the floor of the mouth, or buccal cavity.
Toads vs. Frogs
Toads vs. Frogs
Males vs. Females
Males vs. Females
Males vs. Females
Males vs. Females
Male Vocal Sacs
 Pithing of the frog

• Pithing is the destruction of the central nervous

system by piercing the brain and/or spinal cord.
• This procedure is used in experiments to render
the animal unconscious so that it feels no pain.
• Single-pithed frog – only the brain is destroyed
• Double-pithed frog – spinal cord is destroyed as
well
 Procedure
1. There are two accepted methods for pithing a frog.
2. One method of single pithing a frog entails holding
the animal in a paper towel with its dorsal side up
and with the index finger pressing the nose down so
that the head makes a right angle with the trunk.
3. Locate the slight depression formed by the first
vertebra and skull about 3 mm behind the line joining
the posterior borders of the tympanic membrane.
This groove represents the area of the foramen
magnum.
4. Carefully insert a long, sharp-tipped needle or probe
into the foramen magnum and direct it forward and a
little downward.
5. Exert a steady pressure and rotate it, moving it from
side to side in the cranial cavity to destroy the brain.
4. Carefully insert a long, sharp-tipped needle or probe
into the foramen magnum and direct it forward and a

5.
little downward.
Procedure
Exert a steady pressure and rotate it, moving it from
side to side in the cranial cavity to destroy the brain.
6. To double pith the frog, insert the needle into the
vertebral canal, directing it downward until it has
reached the end of the canal. Move the needle from
side to side as you go.
7. A second acceptable method to single pith a frog
involves holding the animal in a paper towel with its
dorsal side up and inserting one blade of a pair of
scissors into the animal’s mouth and cutting off the
top of the head just posterior to the eyes.
8. To double pith the animal, insert a long-sharp tipped
needle or probe into the exposed vertebral column
and direct it downward until it has reached the end
of the canal, moving the needle from side to side as
you go.

Amitrano, R, & Tortora, GJ. (2007). Laboratory Exercises in Anatomy and Physiology with Cat Dissections
Pithing of the frog

Amitrano, R, & Tortora, GJ. (2007). Laboratory Exercises in Anatomy and Physiology with Cat Dissections