2. ORGANISM PHYSIOLOGY 2
Organism Physiology
Frogs are a type of amphibians without tails. Frogs are the largest known in the
amphibian family. There are roughly 3,500 living species of frogs all over the world. The only
places you cannot find frogs are in Antarctica. Frogs can adapt to all extremes. Thus is why they
can be found all over the continent except Antarctica.
Some frogs cannot be on dry lands for extended periods of time. They always return to
areas where there are some sorts of water form. They need moist or subterranean environments
to survive. “Carter stated, Most amphibians are unable to prevent a large loss of body water
(through the skin) when on land (1978). Frogs make the best of situations by utilizing their skin
to absorb water from wet soil and other moist surfaces. Then the water is stored in the bladder.
While some amphibians may not live permanently on dry lands some frogs do until they
are ready to reproduce. Some amphibians live in the desert like the Sonoran Desert Toad. The
frogs live near water sources like streams and permanent pools. Amphibians that live in the
desert have an accelerated growth pattern. It takes them less than two weeks for an egg to grow
into a toadlet (Devender, T., 2009).
Figure 1 show the abdominal and chest cavities of the frog. They have an esophagus also
known as a throat just like humans do. Arteries carry blood to different organs in the body
exactly like in humans. The frog’s heart is made up of the left atrium, right atrium, and
3. ORGANISM PHYSIOLOGY 3
ventricles. Frogs can almost be compared to humans because they have almost the same organs
just in lot smaller forms.
Also shown in figure 1 you can see we see the parts of the digestive system. Food starts
in the esophagus and runs down into the stomach where food is churned and broke down. Acids
are excreted into the stomach to help with the break down process. The liver produces digestive
liquid which is stored in the gallbladder. The pancreases is another organ that produces another
type of liquid that also helps breakdown food as it is trying to exit the body. These two liquids
from the pancreases’ and the gallbladder flow through a tube called the bile duct and flows
directly into the small intestine. At the same time the food is leaving the stomach and flowing
into the small intestine. While the food is in the small intestine digestion and absorption of all the
vitamins and minerals from the food are being absorbed into the blood stream. After this process
is complete the waste and all food substance the body cannot use is passed through the large
intestine right out the cloacae. What we refer to as the anus of humans.
Figure 2 displays the urinary and reproductive systems of the frog. On the left you see the
diagram of the male frog. The male has testes, sperm ducts, and the cloaca. These three make up
the reproductive system of the male frog. The female frog has a few more organs. In the figure 2
diagram in the right side you can see that the female has an ovary, oviduct, uteri, and the cloaca.
These four parts make up the female reproductive system.
4. ORGANISM PHYSIOLOGY 4
It seems like amphibians can adapt very well to their environments. They have been in
existence for hundred thousands of years. As long as frogs have some form of water they can
survive different types of environments and adjust. The inside of a frog is quite similar to a
human. It is smaller of course. A frog’s body on the outside has changed to adapt to its
environment. It has no hair at all. It skin is quite smooth and can soak up water almost as good as
a sponge. When the seasons get cold frogs can dig under the dirt and kind of like hibernate. The
cold weather will not kill them and they can stay warm under the dirt.
7. ORGANISM PHYSIOLOGY 7
Reference
Answers in Genesis, & Carter, D. (1978).The Frog: A Relic of Evolution? Retrieved from
website on May 30, 2015: https://answersingenesis.org/amphibians/the-frog-a-relic-of-
evolution/
Massengale, C.(2015). Animal Dissections. Retrieved from:
http://www.biologyjunction.com/frog_dissection.htm
Museum. A., & Devender, T. (2009). Adaptations of Desert Amphibians and Reptiles. Retrieved
from http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/149827
