TOAD DISSECTION:

INTERNAL ORGANS

Group No. 4 Date Performed: November 15, 2019

Ramirez, Genebueve T. Date Submitted: November 22, 2019
Ramiso, Isabel U.
Runas, Gilan Ronbelle S.
Salles, Jobelle J.
Sardani, Justine Lance B.

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

Fig 1. Visceral Organ Harvesting Flowchart

IV. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Cells are composed of organelles and other cell compartments that work together
during normal cell function. In multi-cellular organisms, cells join together to form
tissues. These tissues are organized to form organs in animals which have a variety of
organs and each one develops particular functions.

Liver

Stomach

Eggs

Fig 2. Overview of Frog's Anatomy

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

Fig 3. Frog's Mouth

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.

Fig 5. Toad's Skin

Additionally, skin of a frog is “respiratory” in nature because it is profusely

supplied with blood capillaries. Skin is thin and devoid of any structure that prevent
diffusion of dissolved oxygen from water in the blood. Secretion of mucus by mucous
gland always keeps its surface moist (Pokhrel, 2016).

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

Fig 6a. Location of Toad’s Heart

Fig 6b. Toad’s Heart

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

Fig 8. Toad's Kidneys Fig 9. Toad's Eggs

The kidneys function to eliminate nitrogenous wastes produced during the

breakdown of proteins, regulate water balance, pH and the ionic composition of the body
fluids. These bean-shaped organs are located in the abdominal region adjacent to the
dorsal body wall. The female gametes are produced in paired ovaries located medial and
posterior to the kidneys. The ovaries produce gametes as well as hormones that regulate
the reproductive cycle. Mature eggs are shed into the ovarian bursa that completely
surrounds each ovary.
V. CONCLUSION
Toads are often chosen to be dissected is that their bodies provide a good
overview of the organ systems of a complex living thing. While the way their bodies
work is nowhere near identical to a human’s, there are many similarities. The organs
present in a frog, and the way they are laid out in the body, are similar enough to humans
to provide insight for students about how their bodies work. Also, certain body structures
and adaptations can be seen in frogs that illustrate how toads evolved over time and how
they fill particular niches in the ecosystems they belong to. For example, the tongue of a
frog has adapted to have great length, strength, and speed in order to effectively catch
insects in flight. The role that this tongue allows the frog to fulfill—consuming insects as
its primary food source—is important in the balance of many ecosystems the toad is a
part of.
VI. REFERENCES

 Biology Dictionary. (2019). Animal Circulatory System. . Retrieved on November

21, 2019 from: https://biologydictionary.net/animal-circulatory-system/
 Creative Commons (2019). Animal Organs. Retrieved on November 19, 2019 from:
https://mmegias.webs.uvigo.es/02-english/2-organos-a/guiada_o_a_inicio.php
 Generation Genius. (2019). Structure of Living Things. Retrieved on November 19,
2019 from: https://www.generationgenius.com/structure-and-function-of-living-
things/
 Merriam Webster. (2019). Toad Definition. Retrieved on November 19, 2019 from :
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/toad
 Pokhrel, P. (2016). Respiratory System of Frog. Retrieved on November 21,
2019 from: http://microbiologynotes.com/respiratory-system-frog/
 Pokhrel, P. (2016). Physiology of Digestion in Frog. Retrieved on November 21,
2019 from: http://microbiologynotes.com/physiology-digestion-frog/
 Synder, Amy. (1999). The Amazing Adaptable Frog. Retrieved on November 21,
2019 from: https://www.exploratorium.edu/frogs/mainstory/frogstory2.html
 Villarete, N. (2015). Digestive System of a Frog. Retrieved on November 21,
2019 from: https://www.slideshare.net/nikeeme_v/digestive-system-of-a-frog
 TOAD DISSECTION:
EXTERNAL STRUCTURES

Group No. 4 Date Performed: November 15, 2019

Ramirez, Genebueve T. Date Submitted: November 22, 2019
Ramiso, Isabel U.
Runas, Gilan Ronbelle S.
Salles, Jobelle J.
Sardani, Justine Lance B.

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

Fig 1. Skin Observation Flowchart

IV. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Toads are amphibians, in the family of Bufonidae with more than 300 species.
They differ from most frogs because they have dry skin, warts, crests behind the eyes,
and parotoid glands.

Fig 2. Toad’s Skin

 During dissection, external feautures of the toad includes its skin was observed
different to its other species for its thick skin looks bumpy. Apparently, it is because
toads usually live far away from water for most of their lives, so they need a thick skin
that holds moisture. Moreover, the skin can be very vital because Amphibian skin not
only helps in avoiding desiccation but also helps in imposing defense against predators
such as the toad producing a substance, called bufotoxin that can cause death in small
animals and allergic reaction to humans. Toads have other ways to avoid being eaten too.
If they’re brown or green in color, they can blend into their surroundings and escape
detection. If brightly colored, they warn predators to stay away because they’re
poisonous. Toads also puff up their bodies in an attempt to look bigger and inedible if a
predator is nearby. Amphibian skin also possesses wide variety of chemical compounds,
which have potential significance in pharmacology and therapeutics. Toads especially
those belonging to genus Bufo, are outstanding source of useful granular-gland secretions
(Garg et al, 2007).
Skin color also indicates the sex difference of a toad such as some species of
toads, like the American toad, males develop color differences that are especially
prevalent in the neck area. When you look at the billowy part that inflates when the toad
sings, a darker patch of skin on one toad and a white patch on another are signs of sex
difference. The male has the darker throat and the female the lighter.
Toads may have similar structures and organ system with human, though they do not
work in the same manner. Both creatures possess a circulatory system, which operates as
the heart pumps blood throughout the body. However, frogs have a three-chambered
heart, with two atria and one ventricle compared to the human's two atria and two
ventricles. Additionally, frogs and humans have similar digestive and respiratory
systems.
V. CONCLUSION
What we learned from this dissection was that the frogs physiology or external
structures specifically the skin plays an important role for the survival of the specie. They
maintain certain movements and defense mechanism to avoid being preyed by bigger
organisms. Aside from its skin nature being bumpy for living in land most of their lives,
they also use it to adapt in the environment. Although frogs and humans may have certain
differences, there are still similarities in other aspects such as its organ system working
together in order to live and to function properly. The external part of the frog may not be
as complex as humans but it helps us view similarities and differences of the
physiological features between human and frog. Also, Internal Organ system may be
important for the sustenance of nutrients and mode of transportation in the body of the
organism but external system such as the integumentary system protecting the internal
organs from physical environment is also essential in order to make the body healthy and
functional.
VI. REFERENCES
 A Garg, R Hippargi, A Gandhare. Toad skin-secretions: Potent source of
pharmacologically and therapeutically significant compounds. The Internet
Journal of Pharmacology. 2007 Volume 5 Number 2.