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Lab Partners Name(s): ____________________________________________________________

Frog Dissection Lab Manual

LAB TARGETS:
I will observe, identify, and describe the internal and external structures of a frogs anatomy
I will compare and contrast the frogs anatomy to a humans anatomy
I will work in teams to follow a set of lab procedures correctly and independently

MATERIALS:

Gloves
Lab apron
Preserved frog
Dissecting tray

Scissors
Forceps
Scalpel
Cleaning spray

Biohazard bag
Paper towels

Flow Diagram #1: Write the 8 lab directions for Part 1 in your own words, using the boxes below.
STEP 1

STEP 2

STEP 3

STEP 4

STEP 5

STEP 6

STEP 7

STEP 8

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LAB PROCEDURES PART 1: External Anatomy and Mouth

1. Put on gloves and a lab apron. There should be a plastic bag with your frog. Cut this bag open.
2. Place your frog on a dissection tray. What do you see? What does the frog feel like? Make 3
qualitative observations and 3 quantitative observations, using complete sentences. Remember
to use your 5 senses (except for taste)!
Qualitative Observations

Quantitative Observations

1.

1.

2.

2.

3.

3.
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3. Make an inference about the frogs sex. Start by looking at the fingers on its forelegs.
Enlarged
thumb pad

Male

Hint:
A male frog usually has thick pads on its
"thumbs," which is one external
difference between the sexes, as shown
in the diagram below. Male frogs are also
usually smaller than females.

Female

I infer that the frog is ________________ (male or female) because_________

______________________________________________________________________________.
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4. Label the frog picture below.

LABEL ON THE DIAGRAM TO
THE LEFT, THEN FIND ON
FROG:
mouth
tympani
nictitating membrane
external nares
foreleg
femur
elbow joint
patella
anus
Eyes
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5. Find the bones, muscles, and structures in the picture above by looking at the frogs external
anatomy.

6. Turn the frog on its back. Use your hands to pull the mouth open. Find the tongue.

7. Use your scissors to cut along the frogs jaw. Break the hinges of the mouth so you can open
the mouth completely. You should hear the jaw bones crack.

8. Use the diagram above to locate and identify the structures inside the mouth. Be careful when
touching the sharp vomerine teeth! When youve found all the structures, raise your hand and ask
to be tested. You will only be tested on the 7 circled parts in the picture above.
Test #1:

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LAB PROCEDURES PART 2: Internal Anatomy

Flow Diagram #2: Write the 11 Lab Directions for Part 2 in your own words, using the boxes.
STEP 1

STEP 2

STEP 3

STEP 4

STEP 5

STEP 6

STEP 7

STEP 8

STEP 9

STEP 10

STEP 11

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1. Use your scalpel and scissors to cut along the two lines shown above. CUT ONLY THE SKIN!
Make sure you do not cut through the thick layer of muscle underneath the skin.
.

2. Pin or pull back both of the flaps so that the chest skin is out of the way. You should now see a
thick layer of muscle and fat that is covering the internal organs.
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3. Use your scalpel to CAREFULLY make a hole in the chest. Then, use your scissors to cut the
layer of muscle along the lines you drew. You should make sure to cut only through the layer of
muscle that is covering the internal organs, as well as some chest bones that are in the way. Use
your forceps to hold up the layer of muscle as you cut, in order to make sure you are not cutting
too deep. If you cut too deep, you may damage the internal organs!
Cut slowly and carefully. This is a critical step, so raise your hand and ask for help if you
have any questions.

4. Now that youve cut a line through the muscle layer in the center of the chest, cut two horizontal
lines through the muscle: one along the frogs clavicle line, and one along the frogs pelvic bone.
Use the diagram below to make sure you cut through the muscle at the right places.

5. You should now see the frogs internal organs! If your frog is a female, the abdominal cavity may
be filled with small dark-colored balls, as seen in the picture below. If so, remove the balls and
place them in your tray, so that you can see all of the organs underneath them.
What do you think those dark-colored little balls are? _________________

Does your frog have them? _________________

Have you changed your mind about the sex of your frog? _________________ (yes or no).
If you need to change your inference about the frogs sex, please do so in the lines below: I infer
that the frogs sex is _________________ because _____________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________.
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6. Use the diagram below to help you locate and identify the following organs of the digestive
system:
Esophagus
Stomach
Small intestine

Liver
Gallbladder
Large intestine

7. Use the previous diagram to also help you locate the following structures of the circulatory
system:
An artery attached to the heart
Another artery near the backbone

A vein near one of the shoulders

The two lungs

heart

8. When youve identified all of the structures in Step 6 and 7, raise your hand to be tested.
Test #2:

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9. Use the forceps to pick up the frogs heart and gently place it on the tray.
10. Holding the forceps in one hand and scissors in the other, carefully slice off the thin top layer of
the frogs heart, until you can see the inner chambers.
What is different about the structure of the frogs heart and the structure (shape) of a human heart?
_________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
(Do not just say that the frogs heart is smaller thats obvious! If youre struggling, look at the picture at
the top of this page to help you. )

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11. Use your scissors to make an incision along one of the frogs thighs and forelegs. Look for a
ligament and a tendon.
A ligament is a tissue (string) that attaches one bone to another bone.
A tendon is a tissue (string) that attaches a bone to a muscle.
Ex: Look at these pictures of tendons and ligaments in a human.

CLEAN UP PROCEDURES:
12. Close the muscle and skin flaps and place the frog and all of its parts in the red Biohazard bag
at your table. The frog and all frog parts should NOT be placed in the trash!
13. Wash the dissecting tray, forceps, and scissors, and place them in your tables dissection box.
14. Throw your apron in the large trashcan.
15. Use a disinfectant wipe to clean your table.
16. Throw your gloves, paper towels, and any other materials in the large trashcan.
17. Wash your hands with soap.
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POST-LAB QUESTIONS:
Journal Entry:
Write several complete sentences about the things you learned during the frog dissection. FILL ALL
THE LINES!!
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_____________________________________________________________________________
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1. What did you think was challenging about the frog dissection lab? ________________________
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2. What did you think was easy about the frog dissection lab? ____________________________
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3. How many chambers does a frogs heart have? ______________________________________

4. What do both frogs and humans use their heart for? ___________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
5. Name at least 8 organs you were able to see during this dissection.

_____________________________

_____________________________

_____________________________

_____________________________

_____________________________

_____________________________

_____________________________

_____________________________

6. In the following table, write the name of the body systems you looked at during the dissection
and the organs or structures in the frog that belong to that body system.

Body System You Looked At

Parts of This System That I Observed

Digestive System

Circulatory System

Skeletal System

Reproductive System

7. After finishing the frog dissection, write 3 questions you still have about the frog or human body.
(You must think of 3 questions that we did not already talk about in class!)
_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________
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8. How well did you and your partner follow the directions for this lab? Explain.
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