Synfrog Lab Worksheet
Synfrog Lab Worksheet
Name _____________________________________________________
Date____________________
You will need to go online to answer some of this information. During the lab please follow directions
and answer questions in italics during the lab and answer all others later.
Part A: Introduction
1. What class does the frog belong to?
2. Why does a frog belong to that class?
3. Why are amphibians considered to be a unique evolutionary group?
6. Observe the Size. Use a ruler to measure your frog, measure from the anterior (tip of the
head) to the posterior tip (end of the frog's backbone—do not include the legs in your
measurement).
Your frog in cm ___________
12. Locate the following head and mouth structures of the frog.
a. External nares b. internal nares c. Tympanic membrane
d. Tongue e. Eustachian tubes f. Glottis
b. Internal nares
c. Tympanic membrane
d. Tongue
e. Eustachian tubes
f. Glottis
g. Nictitating membrane
15. Locate each of the organs below. Check the box to indicate that you found the organs.
a. Liver—The largest structure of the body cavity. This brown colored organ is composed of
three lobes. The right lobe, the left anterior lobe, and the left posterior lobe.
b. Heart—At the top of the liver, the heart is a triangular structure. The left and right atrium
can be found at the top of the heart. A simple ventricle located at the bottom of the heart.
The vessels attached to the heart are the arteries: arterial trunk, systemic arch, dorsal aorta and
veins: posterior vena cava, anterior vena cava.
c. Lungs—Locate the lungs by looking underneath and behind the heart and liver. They are two
spongy organs.
d. Gall Bladder—Lift the lobes of the liver, there will be a small green sac under the liver.
e. Stomach—Curving from underneath the liver is the stomach. The stomach is the first major
site of chemical digestion. Frogs swallow their meals whole.
f. Small Intestine—Leading from the stomach. The first straight section is called the duodenum,
the curled section is the ileum. The ileum is held together by a membrane called mesentery.
Blood vessels running through the mesentery carry absorbed nutrients away from the
intestines.
g. Large Intestine—As you follow the small intestine down, it will widen into the large intestine.
The large intestine leads to the cloaca, which is the last stop before solid wastes, sperm, eggs
and urine exits the frog’s body.
h. Spleen—Return to the folds of mesentery, this dark red spherical object serves as a holding
area for blood.
16. Measuring the small intestine- Remove the small intestine carefully separate the mesentery
from it. Stretch the small intestine out and measure it.
Intestine length _________ cm Compare this to your Frog length from earlier ________ cm
17. Locate each of the Urogenital System organs below. Check the box to indicate that you
found the organs.
The frog’s reproductive and excretory system is combined into one system called the urogenital
system. You will need to know the structures for both male and female frogs; however, we will
only be using female frogs.
a. Kidneys—flattened bean shaped organs located at the lower back of the frog near the
spine. They are a dark color. The kidneys filter wastes from the blood.
b. Testes—in male frogs, these organs are located at the top of the kidneys.
c. Oviducts—females-you may see a curly structure near the kidneys.
This is where eggs are produced.
d. Bladder—An empty sac located at the lowest part of the body cavity.
e. Cloaca—opening where urine, sperm and eggs exit.
Clean Up
Now that you have finished with your frog please deposit your frog organs in a plastic bag and
for disposal.
Rinse and dry all of your dissection tools (open scissors to dry).