Lab 5: Skeletal System of the Frog

The skeleton provides support, muscle attachment surfaces, calcium supply to blood, and is a site for blood cell formation.

Skeleton Functions

Vertebrates have either hardened bony structures outside the body (exoskeleton) or internal bone and cartilage (endoskeleton).

Exoskeleton

Dense bone with Haversian systems, osteocytes in lacunae, lamellae, and canaliculi for material transport.

Compact Bone

Less organized bone with trabeculae, spaces for blood-forming cells, and weight reduction function.

Spongy Bone

Central body structures like skull, vertebral column, ribs, and sternum.

Axial Endoskeleton

Structures in limbs and extremities like pectoral and pelvic girdles, forelimbs, and hindlimbs.

Appendicular Endoskeleton

Includes cranium, jaws, hyoid apparatus, and bones of the ears; has specific bones like nasal, sphenethmoid, frontoparietals, and maxillae.

Frog Skull

Derived from gill arches, includes upper and lower jaws, hyoid apparatus, and cartilages supporting the larynx.

Visceral Skeleton

Learn to differentiate and identify bones of a toad skeleton macroscopically and microscopically.

Toad Skeleton Identification

Cartilaginous structure supporting the tongue and larynx, with bony processes and cornua.

Hyoid Apparatus

Lateral expansions on the anterior side of the body of the hyoid apparatus.

Alary Processes

Specialized structure in frogs with vertebrae, including procoelous and amphicoelous types.

Vertebral Column

Fused tail vertebrae continuing the vertebral column beyond the sacral region in frogs.

Urostyle

Bones and cartilages supporting forelimbs, including scapula, clavicle, and coracoid.

Pectoral Girdle

Composed of bones and cartilages associated with the clavicle and coracoid, ending in xiphisternum.

Sternum

Supports hindlimbs, consisting of ilium, ischium, and pubis, with acetabulum for femur articulation.

Pelvic Girdle

Bone of the upper arm, with deltoid ridge and epicondyles for muscle attachment.

Humerus

Fusion of radius and ulna, with olecranon process for muscle attachment.

Radioulna

Bones of the fingers, with a specific phalangeal formula in frogs.

Phalanges

The essential framework of bones in the body that provides support, protection, and facilitates movement.

Skeletal System

An animal with a backbone or spinal column.

Vertebrate

A hard outer covering on some animals that provides protection and support.

Exoskeleton

An internal skeleton made of bone and cartilage.

Endoskeleton

Dense, hard bone tissue that forms the outer layer of bones.

Compact Bone

Less dense bone tissue with a honeycomb structure that is found inside bones.

Spongy Bone

Bone cells found within lacunae in the bone matrix.

Osteocytes

Structures in compact bone that consist of concentric layers of bone tissue surrounding a central canal.

Haversian systems

Lattice-like structures that make up spongy bone tissue.

Trabeculae

Tissue in the bone marrow responsible for producing blood cells.

Hemopoietic Tissue

The central portion of the skeleton, including the skull, vertebral column, and ribs.

Axial Skeleton

The portion of the skeleton that includes the limbs and girdles.

Appendicular Skeleton

The bony structure that encloses the brain and supports the face.

Skull

The part of the skull that encloses and protects the brain.

Cranium

The individual bones that make up the vertebral column.

Vertebrae

The breastbone located in the chest region.

Sternum

The bones that connect the arms to the axial skeleton.

Pectoral Girdle

The structure in the lower body that connects the spine to the legs.

Pelvic Girdle

Prominent bone structures that extend outwards from the main bone.

Bony Projections

The large opening at the base of the skull through which the spinal cord passes.

Foramen Magnum

The area of the skull that houses the structures related to hearing.

Auditory Region

The bony socket in the skull that houses the eyeball.

Orbit

Flat bones located in the roof of the mouth.

Vomeres

Bones located on the lateral sides of the skull near the maxillae.

Palatines

A bone that forms the floor of the cranium.

Parasphenoid

Flexible connective tissues that provide support and structure.

Cartilages