frog dissection

• the dorsal is the top and backside
• the ventral is the bottom and stomach side
• anterior means front
• posterior means back
• vestigial structures are structures that are no longer in use
• camouflage is the adaption of animals to blend in with their surrounding environment to hide from prey
• frogs only have brown splotches for camoflauge on their dorsal side because most predators see them from above
• the frogs forelegs are the front legs
• frogs have webbed feet to swim fast and more efficently
• the cloaca is the external posterior opening that is used for the digestive, urinary, and reproductive systems
• a frog's cloaca is much like a human's anus
• the tympanum is a membrane that vibrates in response to sound waves for hearing and protection
• the tympanum in frogs are similar to the eardrums of human's
• nictitating membrane is the semi-transparent membrane that covers and protects the eye especially underwater
• the nictitating membrane's function for the frog is similar to what goggles do
• the external nares for frogs are like nostrils for humans
• the external nares are anterior opening that allow air to come in the frog's internal system
• the end of the frog's tongue has sticky mucus on the tip to be able to catch prey
• a frog's tongue is attached to the front of the mouth so it can whip it out and catch its prey at extremely high speeds
• internal nares connect to external nares
• unlike how human's air goes through the pharynx to get to the throat, frog's have internal nares that connect directly to the mouth
• maxillary teeth are only used to hold onto to prey
• vomerine teeth are used to crush the food with the tongue but now are vestigial structures
• a frog's eye sockets help with swallowing by being able to retract into the mouth to push the food down to the esophagus
• the gullet is the opening to the esophagus that is similar to the pharynx but much smaller
• the glottis is a flap the opens to the respiratory system and closes when food passes by
• the eustachian tube's main job is to equalize pressure
• a frog's liver has the same function as humans
• the gallbladder has the same structure and function as a human's
• the heart has the same function as human's but only has 3 chambers
• the 3 chambers of a frog's heart are the right atrium, the left atrium, and one ventricle
• a frog's lung have the same function except they receive oxygen from the nares and the glottis
• frogs can also absorb oxygen through their capillaries when they are underwater
• the esophagus moves food down to the stomach from the gullet
• the stomach has the same structure and function as a human's
• the small intestine has the same structure and function as a human's
• the large intestine has the same structure and function as a human's
• Rugae are small ridges found inside the stomach to increase surface area
• fat bodies are small finger-like projections that are used for fat storage during hibernation
• the spleen has the same structure and function as a human's