Schools Division Office – Quezon City

DON ALEJANDRO ROCES SR. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY HIGH SCHOOL

LABORATORY ACTIVITY #1: FROG DISSECTION

I. Introduction
Studying human body system is related to the science of anatomy and
physiology. Here we learn about the structures and functions of different organ systems.
To aid in the discovery, frog dissection is a common reference organism for structures
and system related to human.

II. Objectives
a. Examine the frog and relate the structures to their functions
b. Discuss how the different frog organs are comparable to human organ system

III. Materials
Laboratory gown Dissecting pan Dissecting needle
Gloves Rags/Tissues Cotton ball
Dissecting pins Specimen bottle Probe
Forceps Dissecting scissor Gum label

CHEMICALS:
Chloroform (if available)
Formalin (if available)

PRE-ACTIVITY

NOTE: Accomplish the table before you start the frog dissection. (Answer only
the description and functions). During the dissection, CHECK THE FIRST
COLUMN to indicate that you found the organs.

ORGANS TO LOCATE DESCRIPTION / FUNCTIONS

Vomerine teeth
 Maxillary teeth

Internal nares

Eustachian tubes

Glottis

Tympanic membrane

Nictitating membrane

Peritoneum

Tongue

Esophagus

Stomach

Pyloric sphincter

Small intestine
(duodenum and ileum)

Large intestine (colon)

Cloaca

Fat bodies
 Liver

Gall bladder

Pancreas

Spleen

Cerebrum

Olfactory lobes

Optic lobes

Cerebellum

Medulla oblongata

IV. PROCEDURES
PART A: EXTERNAL ANATOMY
 DORSAL STRUCTURES
1. Place the frog in the dissecting pan ventral side down. Measure the length of your
frog. Describe the appearance of your frog. Locate the following structures: eyes,
nictitating membrane, nostrils, tympanum, thumb (enlarged in male), forearm, hind leg,
and webbed hind foot.
2. Observe the frog’s eyes. The bulging eyes give them a panoramic view. When a frog
swallows’ food, it pulls its eyes down into the roof of its mouth; this helps push food
down its throat.
3. DRAWING #1: Diagram of the EXTERNAL DORSAL VIEW OF THE FROG. Label
the structures noted. Be able to note also the gender of the frog by the thumb structure.
Place the correct number of toes on the fore and hind legs.
  VENTRAL STRUCTURE
Turn over the frog to examine the ventral side. Locate the throat, thorax,
and abdomen. If your frog is male, it will have developed thumb pads.
PART B: INTERNAL ANATOMY

REMOVING THE SKIN

1. CAUTION: As you cut, keep the scissors pointed up, or scalpel pointing moving away
from you. Place the frog in the dissecting pan with the ventral side up, with a scalpel or
scissors, carefully cut along the midventral line of the frog from the anus to the chin.
2. Cut the skin around the frog’s wrists and ankles. From the wrists and ankles, cut up
the inside of each leg until you meet the original cut.
3. Make a cut encircling the neck, cutting only through the skin.
4. Use forceps to peel the skin from the body. Proceed carefully, cutting the skin from
the muscles wherever it does not come off freely.
5. When it has been completely skinned, spread the frog out in the dissecting pan,
ventral side up.

RESPIRATORY AND CIRCULATORY SYSTEM

1. Using a scalpel, cut the ventral muscle wall from the anus to the throat. Be careful not
to cut too deeply or you will damage the internal organs.
2. Make a lateral cut from shoulder to shoulder and down either side. Finish making a
square so that the chest and abdominal muscles can be removed completely and the
bones in the shoulder girdle can be moved out of the way. This will expose the coelom.
If you have a female frog, the body cavity may be filled with masses of black eggs. If
this is the case, remove them and proceed with the investigation.
3. Locate the following parts on your frog: larynx, right and left lung, and heart. The
three chambered heart is covered by a membranous sac. Remove it with scissors to
find the right and left atria, and the ventricle.
4. Lift the stomach and find the spleen, a round organ. The spleen filters the blood,
taking out improperly functioning red blood cells.

(The Respiratory System and Heart of the Frog)

INTERNAL ANATOMY QUESTIONS:

PREPARED BY:

MR. JAY MARK U. MANUNDAN