Activity no.

7
THE FROG EMBRYO
Group no. 5 March 20, 2022
Members: Hadjula | Kalayakan | Tatel

Observation: Draw and label the following:

7 mm Frog embryo (whole mount) 10 mm Frog embryo (whole mount)

7 mm Frog embryo (cross sections)

Telencephalon &
Olfactory pit level
Diencephalon &
Otic cups level

Rhombencephalon
level
 Thyroid
Section
 Otic
Vesicle
Section
 Heart
Section

Spinal cord level

 Pronephro
s&
Midgut
Section
 Cloaca
Section
10 mm Frog embryo (cross section)
Telencephalon
Olfactory organs
level

Diencephalon &
The eye level
Myelencephalon
and Auditory
vesicle level

Pronephros &
The first Spinal
Ganglion level
Questions
1. Name and describe the structures of a typical frog embryo

Structure Location Formed by Fate

Epidermis Outermost skin Ectoderm

layer

Epiphysis between head Mid-dorsal Pineal body

ectoderms Evagination of
the brain vesicle
and brain

Prosencephalon Anterior of Telencephalon

embryonic Diencephalon
brain

Telencephalon Anterior of Cavity: lateral

Forebrain ventricle

lateral ventricle at the anterior Evagination of

end of the the side of the
neurocoele neural tube

Mantle layer Adjacent to the Gray matter of

ependymal CNS
layer
Marginal layer Outermost White matter of
brain layer CNS

Nasal Organ at the region of Invagination of

the the
telencephalon
ectoderm
and lying
ventrolateral to
it

Jacobson’s organ Evagination of

the nasal organ
(Vomeronasal
region)

Prechordal Beneath the chondrocranium

cartilage telencephalon
 Diencephalon Posterior of
forebrain

Frontal Organ region of the Evagination of

diencephalon to the diencephalic
the region of the roof together
telencephalon with the
epiphysis

Infundibulum On the floor of Develops as a posterior

the depression in the portion of the
prosencephalon floor of the pituitary gland
(diencephalon) prosencephalon

Hypophysis Ventral to the inward growing anterior portion

cord of of pituitary
(rathke’s pocket) infundibulum;
gland
b/n oral & ectoderm from
brain cavity stomodeum

Mesencephalon Mid region of

brain; posterior
to eye

cranial nerve Lateral to floor Fr. Neural Crest Part of the

ganglion of the cells peripheral
mesencephalon nervous system

Rhombencephalo Most caudal Metencephalon

n Myelencephalon
Anterior
expansion: IV
ventricle

Metencephalon behind the optic

lobes and
medial to the V
ganglion

Myelencephalon Most posterior

part of
hindbrain
 Spinal cord Fr. posterior
region of
neural tube

Mesenchyme b/n organs and mesoderm and Loose reticulum:

epidermis neural crest outermost cells
cells → dermis.
Head b/n the
Connective
Mesenchyme presumptive
tissues;
epidermis) and
Epithelial
the walls of
tissues.
prosencephalon
Muscular
tissues; Nervous
tissues

Olfactory either side of Paired pigment Evaginate:

Placodes the prosocoel in invagination on Olfactory Pits
the head either side of
mesenchyme the prosocoel

Olfactory Pits lateral to ventral Evagination of nasal passages

portion Olfactory with olfactory
Placodes receptors
of prosencephalon
fr. ECTODERM

Otic Placode Closed chamber in ECTODERM Evaginate: Otic

the Level of lens
Rhombencephalo
Otic Lens n Evagination of otic
placodes
Otic vesicle on each side of
hind brain
(Hallow organ)

Otic capsules Laterally located Paired Inner Ear

(auditory and invagination of
vesicle)
ventral to brain; otic placode

Optic vesicles Evagination from Optic cups →

the lateral wall of ectodermal
 prosencephalon parts of eye
(except lens &
cornea)

Optic cups Lateral to invagination of the Inner layer –

infundibulum distal portion of retina; Outer
the optic vesicle layer –
Pigmented
layer

Retina Thick inner layer Ganglion

of optic cups Layer Bipolar
Neurons Layer
Rods and
Cones

Pigmented Outer walls of the Fr. Medial half of Iris

epithelium optic cup the optic vesicle

Lens Placodes anterior to the Thickening of the Evaginate:

olfactory pits head Lens Vesicle
ectoderm

Lens Vesicle Left side of Optic Evagination of Eye lens

Cups Lens Placodes

Lens Enclosed by the Thickenings of

optic cup inner wall of lens
vesicle

Cornea Superficial Assembly of

covering of the eye ectodermal and
mesodermal cells
b/n ectoderm and
lens

Notochord Ventral to the Chordamesoderm Disappears

CNS; dorsal to the
gut

Somites on each side of the Dorsal Mesoderm Sclerotome →

notochord axial
subdivided into
segments skeleton
 Myotome →
muscle
Dermatome →
dermis

Stomodeum antero-ventral Deep invagination

region of the head of the antero-
ventral ectoderm
of the head

Oropharyngeal in contact with Rupture:

Membrane / anterior wall of Mouth
oral plate the foregut

Suckers / Ventrolateral to Paired

adhesive glands oral region; Ectodermal
ventral
thickenings

Oral Cavity At the cranial end Evagination of the

of the alimentary
foregut
canal

Buccal Cavity Region where the from stomodeum

nasal cavity &
mouth opens

Pharynx Foregut Mandibular

Arch

Thyroid at the floor of the Evagination of

pharynx; beneath endodermal cells
the hypobranchial at the floor of the
cartilages pharynx

Mandibular Most cranial Pharynx caudal border of

Arch branchial arch stomodeum;
maxillary
process cranial
to stomodeum;

Sacculus Ventral chamber Lower vert. :

of the auditory
 vesicle lagena
Higher vert. :
cochlea

Auditory capsule Surrounding the Cartilaginous

auditory vesicle ear

External Gills Protrude from Fr. Branchial Replaced by

each side of the arches 3 to 6 internal gills
head

Heart Beneath the Organization of

floor of the Loose
Mesodermal
foregut; Below
Cells
the pharynx; in
pericardial
coelom

Pericardium midventral migration of

region of the heart mesoderm
pericardial to midventral
cavity region of the
pericardial
cavity

Endocardium Inner layer of Mesenchymal Lining of heart

the heart cells wall
organize into a
continuous
endothelial lining
of the heart

Epimyocardium Outer layer of Muscle

the heart

Truncus Beneath the

Arteriosus pharynx; most
anterior portion
of
the heart

Bulbus Cordis Anterior heart

 chamber

Mesomeres Paired bulges Pronephric

below horizontal Tubules
level of
(Pronephros,
notochord pronephric
kidney)

Pronephros Lateral side of Degenerates:

the specimen
Mesonephric
Kidney

Glomus Ventral to the

dorsal aorta

Liver Deep groove in Liver

diverticulum the floor of the
pharynx

Spinal cord Posterior of the

hindbrain

Sub notochordal b/n notochord & disappears

rod midgut

Midgut Middle part of Fr. Archenterons Small intestine

the gut

Proctodeum At the base of Ectodermal Break: Anus

the tail invagination that
meets with the
endoderm of the
hindgut

Cloacal b/n the Perforated:

membrane Proctodeum & posterior
(ectodermal & hindgut opening of the
endodermal plate) digestive tract

Hindgut Posterior most cloaca, colon,

region of the small intestine &
embryonic gut rectum
dorsal wall →
 post anal gut
(disappears)
amp. Urinary
bladder

Dorsal fin Dorsal midline Extension of the Degenerates

of the trunk & body wall
tail

2. Differentiate the 7 mm and 10 mm frog embryo

The 7mm frog embryo, it has well-formed external gills and a functional heart.
The embryo has changed its shape and has become a tadpole. The tail serves as a
powerful swimming organ, provided with lateral segmented somites and fin folds on the
dorsal ventral sides. The forebrain has further differentiated into telencephalon (two
hemispheres) and diencephalon. The stomodeum is now deeply invaginated. The
olfactory pit is surrounded by large, pigmented cells. The epiphysis is formed by circular
knob of cells that are separated from the brain. The notochord extends up to tail, head and
trunk are bloated, midgut is excluded. The hindgut does not lose its cavity but persists as
cloaca. The dorsal wall of hindgut becomes extended into tail rudiment as post anal gut,
which later is broken down and will disappear in amphibians, hindgut gives rise to
ventral evagination, urinary bladder.
While the 10 mm frog embryo, it has similar features just like in the 7 mm from
embryo, however, some structures are more developed.
3. How are the morphological structures of a typical frog at day three, day eight, and week
sixteen differ?
At day three of frog embryo or after hatching the tadpole might not be visible as it
does not have the energy to swim. It will camouflage itself while it eats the jelly in its
stomach. On day eight, the tadpoles will have the strength to swim and will be looking
for food. They will only be eating algae. Lastly, on week sixteen, the tadpole’s tail drops
off. The metamorphosis is complete, and tadpole has become a young frog. The
development between frogspawn being laud and young frog leaving the pond is about 16
weeks.
4. Explain the metamorphosis of a frog
The changes that an animal undergoes during its life cycle are known as
metamorphosis. An egg will hatch into a tadpole, which will develop back legs first, then
front legs, and eventually grow into a fully formed adult frog.
5. Why is the frog life cycle unique with the other amphibians?
 Most other amphibians, as well as numerous kinds of invertebrates, go through
metamorphosis. Prolactin and thyroxine, two hormones, regulate the transition from egg
to larva to adult during metamorphosis.
Generalization
In summary, the growth of frog embryo is divided into three parts that are simultaneously
developing and these are ectoderm, endoderm, and mesoderm. Each germ layer developed into
various parts of the embryos body according to what germ layer it is. Ectoderm is mostly
responsible for the development of nervous system followed by sense organs. Endoderm is
responsible for the development of the gut that extends from buccal cavity to the anus and
Mesoderm is responsible for the development of urogenital, circulatory, arterial, and venous
system. Each germ layer is important prior to its development and every tissue or cell
communicate to each other to determine what to develop (induction). As every organ starts to
function, they help the developing process of the embryo (e.g., the pumping of heart that
provides oxygen to the embryo). This proves that each germ layer plays a crucial part in studying
the development of frog embryo.
References
G. (n.d.). Development of Frog Embryo - PDFCOFFEE.COM. Pdfcoffee.Com.

https://pdfcoffee.com/development-of-frog-embryo-pdf-free.html

ResearchGate. (n.d.). ResearchGate | Find and share research. https://www.researchgate.net/

The Stages in a Frog’s Life. (2019, August 11). ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/life-

cycle-of-a-frog-130097#:%7E:text=Frogs%20are%20not%20the%20only,egg%20to

%20larva%20to%20adult.

User, G. (n.d.). At-Home STEM Activities: Life Cycle of a Frog. McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery

Center. https://www.starhop.com/blog/2020/5/4/at-home-stem-activities-life-cycle-of-a-

frog#:%7E:text=Metamorphosis%20is%20another%20word%20for,a%20full%20grown

%20adult%20frog!