Development of the Frog: From Tadpoles to Mature Adults
All frogs begin their life cycle as single celled zygote that was created through the fertilization of an egg.
Through the process of mitosis, this single celled zygote will divide several times through a process called blastulaiton. Blastulation will result in a hollow ball of cells. Once blastulation is complete, gastrulation takes place which leads into the development of an embryo that has more specialized structures. The embryos quickly develop into tadpoles, which then go through a process known as metamorphosis. Through this process, tadpoles develop legs and lose their tails, developing into a mature adult. See more about the life cycle below: |
|
Exterior Anatomy of the Frog
Dorsal (Back) SideThe skin is:
- Smooth and slippery mucous secretions - Mucous keeps skin moist and aides in respiraiton (breathing) - Thin so that oxygen can more easily pass through the skin and into the blood stream A frogs head:
- Has eyes located on the side of its head, allowing it to see predators and prey that are approaching from the front and the side - Has a tympanic membrane that detects sound waves when it vibrates |
Ventral (Front) SideThe cloaca is a posterior opening that serves the exit point for solid and liquid waste and eggs or sperm. This structure is homologous to that of all ofther amphibians, birds, and reptiles.
It is very difficult to sex a frog based on its external structures Each forelimb has four finger-like structures, while the hindlimbs have five. These finger-like structures may have sticky pads to aide in climbing or be webbed to enhance swimming abilities.
|
Interior Anatomy of the Frog
The frog's internal anatomy consists of the following structures, organs, and organ systems:
- Digestive System - Respiratory System - Circulatory System - Reproductive System - Excretory System - Nervous System - Skeletal System - Muscular System Many of these systems function in the same way as the human systems do. This is because we To learn more about these structures, organs, and organ systems, click on the picture to the left and watch the videos. |
Virtual Frog Dissection
One of the best ways to learn about the eternal and internal structures of an organism and their functions is to perform a dissection. In order to obtain the best results from your dissection of the frog, complete a virtual dissection by clicking on the following link:
http://www.surgery-games.org/43/Dissect-a-Frog.html
http://www.surgery-games.org/43/Dissect-a-Frog.html