Instructions for Frog Dissection

Chances are, you have or will have to dissect a frog in school for science class. Dissecting a frog may seem repulsive, but it is, in fact, an educational and worthwhile experience for just about everyone.

Before the Dissection

• Before you begin the dissection, it helps to know what you're looking for. Frogs are small creatures, and, if you cut before you know what's inside, you may cause bleeding. You could damage the internal organs before you can even get to see them. To dissect a frog, you'll need surgical gloves, goggles, an apron, a place for the dissection to take place, a scalpel or another cutting tool, tacks---and a frog.

Cutting the Skin

• To begin dissecting, lay the frog on its back on the table. It helps to spread the limbs then pin them down. Make a horizontal cut lightly across the lymph nodes on the frog's neck, right under its jaw. Also make an incision across the abdomen, right above the legs. Finally, connect the two cuts by cutting straight down the middle of the abdomen of the frog. It helps to pin the skin and muscle down while you observe the inside contents.

Internal Organs

• When your frog is cut open, you'll be able to see the internal organs. Take note of the heart, which is central in the body. The brown area behind the heart of the frog is the liver. Between the lobes of the liver is the gall bladder, which is a tiny, green orb. In front of the curved white stomach are coils, which are the intestines. Between the stomach and the small intestine is the pancreas, which is a white string of tissue. The yellow, wormy-looking things around the heart, stomach and liver are fat bodies. Similar in looks to the gall bladder is the spleen, which is below the stomach. You can see the kidneys in the back if you push some of the organs out of the way. Finally, also hidden by organs are the lungs, which are small and near the liver.