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INTERNAL ORGANS
I. INTRODUCTION
Anything composed of parts that are held together are considered as structures.
All animals have structures that help them survive in their environment. Some structures
help animals find food, like the eyesight of an eagle. Some structures are very unique to
certain animals, like the water monitor lizard’s long, forked tongue. They use it to smell
and find food. Other animals have camouflage to help them hide from predators, just like
frogs.
Merriam Webster (2019) defined a toad as a type of a frog and a tailless
amphibian with a short stout body and short legs, typically having dry warty skin that can
exude poison. Frogs are a part of a group of animals called Amphibians. Amphibians are
known for living on both land and water. They also have the ability to breathe underwater
when they are very young, they grow gills or breathe air when they are older.
Although many differences exist between humans and frogs, the basic body plans
are similar. Humans and frogs both belong to the phylum Chordata. This guide is
intended to lead you through the anatomy of the frog dissection and to make connections
to the functional significance of the structures that you will locate. By studying the
anatomy of the frog, you will better understand human body systems.
II. OBJECTIVES
To learn the anatomy and morphology of a toad and give a better understanding of
the structures of vertebrate animals in general, including humans;
To correctly locate the major organs within the body cavity of a toad;
To identify the organs that makes up various systems of the frog.
III. METHODOLOGY
• The toad was rinsed with water then placed on the dissection pan. The
toad was laid on it's dorsal (back) side with the belly facing up.
Placement of the
Toad on the Pan
• Frog was pinned for dissection by securing each of the four limbs to the
pan. The pins were placed through the hands and feet to secure onto the
Pinning of the pan.
Toad
• Using the forceps, the skin was lifted midway between the rear legs of
the frog. A cut along the center or midline of the frog was made,
bisecting it equally.
Incision of the • Using the scissors, the skin of the frog from body to its neck was cut, all
Skin the way up above the rear legs and between the front legs of the frogs.
• The skin flaps from the muscle below were separated using the forceps
and scalpel. The incision up the midline of the toad was continued but
Separation of the not too dep for it may cause damage to the organs.
Skin and Muscle
• After observing the internal structures of the toad, the internal organs of
the toad were gathered by cutting the vessel connecting it to the other
organs.
Organ Harvesting
• Three (3) organs were placed in different clean vials. A little amount of
ethyl alhocol was poured in each vial then thrown, leaving the organ
inside the vial. Again, ethyl alcohol was poured in each vial allowing the
Organ organ to be immersed.
Preservation
• All frog parts unused were placed in plastic container and disposed
properly. All equipments such as dissecting pan and dissceting kit were
rinsed and dried.
Cleanup
Liver
Stomach
Eggs
When comparing an animal with a cell, it can be observed the division of work in
specialized compartments, but at different scale. In eukaryotic cell, these compartments
are mostly organelles, whereas in animals the compartments are organs and systems.
Mouth Anatomy
According to Synder (1999), frogs eat almost any live prey they can find,
including insects, snails, spiders, and worms, or small fish. Some larger frogs eat even
larger prey. All prey gets swallowed whole, because frogs can't chew. Some have teeth
and it is usually only on the upper jaw, used for holding onto prey and not for biting or
chewing.
Maxillary Teeth
Eustachian
Tube
Tongue
Some frogs catch insects with a long sticky tongue. It takes less than a second for
a frog's tongue to roll out, adhere to prey, and roll back into the frog's mouth. Maxillary
teeth is located around the upper edge of the jaw that holds the volmerine teeth, present
behind the middle portion of the upper jaw, which is responsible in holding the prey and
keeping it in place until they can get a good grip on it. Eustachian tubes are the opening
into the angle of the jaws. These tubes lead to the ears and equalize air pressure inside
this organ. Another tube present in this area is the esophagus. This organ connects the
mouth to the stomach, mainly for food transport. Attached at the front of mouth is, again,
the tongue which extends to catch insects for food. Under this sticky structure lies the
glottis, an opening at back of mouth leads to lungs and important for gas exchange.
Respiratory Organs
Respiration is a process in which food are oxidized with oxygen in order to
release energy. The released energy is utilized to perform various life activities. The
metabolic waste like CO2 is eliminated from the body. One must remember that due to
amphibious mode of life, frogs show different modes of respiration.
Right
Lung
Right Left
Lung Lung
Left
Lung
Fig 4a. Toad's Inflated Lungs Fig 4b. Toads's Deflated Lungs
Lungs are a pair of thin walled, oval, hollow, soft and spongy elastic sacs. They
are situated in the anterior part of body cavity on each side of the heart. They are pink in
color. Pokhrel (2016) stressed that the wall of a lung is made up of three layers. The lung
is protected by outermost layer called peritoneum. Below this, there is a connective tissue
consisting of blood vessels and muscles fibers. The innermost layer is made up of very
thin and flattened ciliated epithelial cells. The inner surface is divided into series of small
chambers by irregular septa called alveoli or air sacs. The alveoli greatly increase the
surface area to air for gaseous exchange. Lungs are highly vascular and lined with mucus
secreting goblet cells. The mucous keep the inner surface of lungs moist for efficient
absorption of oxygen.
Circulatory Organs
Many animals have a closed circulatory system, where the blood is maintained in
vessels and pumped by a heart. Animals with a closed circulatory system tend to have
higher blood pressure. The blood is also able to travel further than in an open system.
These animals may have a one-, two-, three-, or four-chambered heart.
Right
Atrium
Blood Left
Heart Atrium
Blood Ventricle
Vessels
Under the group of tissues where the arrow points at figure 6a lays the heart. A
frog has a three-chambered heart. The chambers include two atria and a ventricle. The
right atrium receives deoxygenated blood from the veins. Oxygenated and deoxygenated
blood has a tendency to mix within the ventricle that is responsible for pumping blood.
The left atrium receives oxygenated blood from both the lungs and the skin.
According to Biology Dictionary, frogs have three circuits for their circulation,
unlike humans who only have two. Like humans, however, frogs have a systemic circuit,
which pumps oxygenated blood throughout the body. The pulmonary circuit moves blood
to the lungs to pick up oxygen. Frogs also have a pulmocutaneous circuit, where
deoxygenated blood is transported to the skin to pick up oxygen and undergo gas
exchange.
Digestive Organs
The process of taking of food into alimentary canal through mouth is called
ingestion. The food is captured with the help of sticky tongue. During ingestion, mouth is
opened and the tongue is released out to catch the prey which is then rapidly withdrawn
into the buccal cavity and mouth is closed. The process which food passes in the
esophagus and to the rest of the alimentary canal is called peristalsis (Pokhrel, 2016).
Large
Intestine
Fat Bodies
Gall Stomach
Bladder
Liver
Fig 7a. Digestive System of a Toad Fig 7b. Fatty Bodies of a Toad
The digestive system of a frog starts with the mouth. Mouth helps in consumption
of food. The saliva produced and secreted by the salivary glands helps in conversion of
starch to sugar and adds liquid to the ingested food. The food mixed with saliva then
moves from mouth into the pharynx, and then into the esophagus. It pushes the food
further into the sac like structure stomach. This movement is food into the stomach is
known as deglutition or swallowing. The food mixed with saliva then moves from mouth
into the pharynx, and then into the esophagus. It pushes the food further into the sac like
structure stomach. The food which is partially digested in stomach then proceeds in to the
small intestine, where most part of the digestion occurs. On the other hand, gall bladder is
a sac-like structure that stores bile and can be easily found between liver lobes. Liver
secretes bile and processes digest food molecules found under muscle layer.
Urogenital Organs
The urogenital system consists of both the urinary system and the reproductive
system. They are considered together because they share some common ducts. As
members of the class Amphibia, frogs may live some of their adult lives on land, but they
must return to water to reproduce. Eggs are laid and fertilized in water.
Kidneys
I. INTRODUCTION
One of the most remarkable contribution of animals in understanding the body in
deeper aspect is being the subject for dissection. Why do we perform dissection? And
more importantly, why do we keep on using one specific amphibian such as toad for
dissection?
During dissection, students are encouraged to touch, explore, see, and examine
the external and internal parts of a single animal and it will lead them to a wider view on
how the system works, its similarity and differences to other animals and that includes
human. Frogs are often chosen to be dissected because their bodies provide a good
overview of the organ systems of a complex living thing. Frog and human may have
differences such as how their body works but both have some identical organ system
structures.
II. OBJECTIVES
In this laboratory, we will dissect a frog in order to observe the external and internal
structures of frog anatomy and physiology.
Examine the external structures of the frog specifically its skin
Describe the appearance of various external system.
Name the organs that make up various systems of the frog.
Explain how they sustain their physiological needs
To compare frog and human physiology.
III. METHODOLOGY
•The toad was rinsed with water then placed on the dissection pan. The
toad was laid on it's dorsal (back) side with the belly facing up.
Placement of the
Toad on the Pan
•Frog was pinned for dissection by securing each of the four limbs to the
pan. The pins were placed through the hands and feet to secure onto
Pinning of the the pan.
Toad
•Using the forceps, the skin was lifted midway between the rear legs of
the frog. A cut along the center or midline of the frog was made,
bisecting it equally.
Incision of the •Using the scissors, the skin of the frog from body to its neck was cut, all
Skin the way up above the rear legs and between the front legs of the frogs.
•All frog parts unused were placed in plastic container and disposed
properly. All equipments such as dissecting pan and dissceting kit were
rinsed and dried.
Cleanup