How to Dissect a Frog?

Written by me for Associated Content, I would like to share this to all of you on my blog too!

Just a Fun Fact, You Will Notice that when You Get to the Heart, it Will Still Be Pumping. If You Are a Teacher, This is Exactly the Question to Ask Your Knowledge-hungry Students!

Introduction:

If you have ever attended Biology or AP Biology class in High School, you will probably notice you have performed a dissection of a frog before. If you haven't, then brace yourself! You are probably about to do one! In reality, dissecting a frog isn't actually that hard. The work can be a little gruesome especially when you pith the frog, but actually other than that, all you have to do is be careful and everything will be fine. If you stumble upon an organ that you don't know, be sure to ask your teacher! She/Her will definitely help you if she/he knows about it!

Please note: All methods in this guide are ethical and in no means trying to abuse the frog.

Tools:

1. A soft surface
2. A scapel
3. A needle
4. A pair of (surgical, if possible) scissors
5. A pair of latex gloves

Procedure:

Pre-Dissection: Pith the Frog

Before we start our dissection, make sure your gloves are on; just a safety precaution. To start out the dissection, we are going to recommend etherizing the frog. This is to ensure that the frog does not feel anything after we start working. To make sure that the frog does not wake up after the anesthetic, we are going to destroy the involuntary functions of the frog; in other words, we are going to "pith" it.

To pith a frog, we are going to turn the frog and make it face backwards against us. Starting from the head, guide your fingers and move vertically down until you feel a soft spot approximately just at the end of the frog's skull. This is the part where we pith the frog by inserting a needle into it. Gruesome though necessary, move the needle quickly side to side until you feel that you have disrupted the spinal cord. Without the spinal cord, any sensory functions of the frog are also disabled.

Note: Remember to be extremely aware of where your needle is when you pith the frog. Any wound caused by an accident while dissection must be treated and sterilized properly.

Removing the Skin

There are several ways to remove the skins of a frog, but in this guide, we are going to use the method I am most familiar with. To remove the skin, we are going to cut it according to an "H" shape outline. First, with a scapel, slowly cut along the lower neck of the frog, and along the intersection between the body and the legs. This will create the two lines of an "H". Next, between the two midpoints of the two separate lines, cut one single line that connects the two midpoints. Be sure that you are only cutting the skin and not the muscle underneath. A pair of (surgical, if possible) scissors works here really well too, because you won't be accidentally cutting the muscles underneath. Simply slip one edge of the scissor into a hole and you will be able to cut a straight line. Pull the skin to the two sides of the body and there you go! A perfect rectangle to observe the organs of that once-living frog!

Just a fun fact, you will notice that when you get to the heart, it will still be pumping. If you are a teacher, this is exactly the question to ask your knowledge-hungry students!

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For more of my AC Posts that I forgot to post on my blogspot, here is the link to my articles!