Anatomical

Terms

Terms for Direction and Orientation

dorsal surface

midsagittal plane

Cranial/Cephalic
Cranial; refers to the
head
part/s
of the
body lying toward
the head
opposite of caudal

anterior

posterior

frontal plane

transverse plane
ventral surface

Caudal
tail or tail-like
structures
part of the body lying
toward the tail or
posterior end
opposite of cephalic
or cranial

dorsal surface

Dorsal
refers to the back or
upper surface
opposite of ventral

Ventral
pertaining to the belly
lower side or surface
opposite the back
opposite of dorsal

anterior

midsagittal plane

posterior

frontal plane

transverse plane
ventral surface

Lateral
refers to the side of
the body

Medial
refers to a position
near the middle or
midline. median refers to a structure
or section in the
middle or midline

dorsal surface

anterior

midsagittal plane

posterior

frontal plane

transverse plane
ventral surface

Proximal
- nearest to the centre;
to the midline, or to the
point of attachment
- opposite of distal
Distal
- farthest from the
centre, from the midline
or from the point of
attachment
- opposite of proximal

midsagittal plane

distal (farthest
from where
the body part
starts)
proximal
(closest to
where body
part starts)

anterior

posterior

transverse
plane

frontal
plane

Anterior
part of the body lying
toward the head
Posterior
part of the body lying
toward the tail or
posterior end
Superficial
near the surface of the
body
Deep
away from the surface
of the body

Planes of Section
Planes
imaginary surfaces dividing the body into
different regions

dorsal surface

midsagittal plane

Frontal plane
horizontal plane through
the longitudinal axis
dorsal and ventral portions
for a quadrupedal animal,
this plane usually parallel
to the ground (unless the
animal is lying on its side)
also called coronal plane

anterior

posterior

frontal plane

transverse plane
ventral surface

Sagittal plane
vertical plane through
the longitudinal axis
left and right portions
also called median
plane
If the animal is bisected
straight down the
midline, the section is
called a "midsagittal"
section

dorsal surface

Transverse plane
plane perpendicular
to the longitudinal
axis
divides the body
crosswise into
cranial and caudal
parts
also called a
"cross section".

anterior

midsagittal plane

posterior

frontal plane

transverse plane
ventral surface

Symmetry
refers to the repetition
of parts
equal halves are
produced by dividing
along a plane or axis

1. Bilateral symmetry
only one plane can
divide the body into
equal and identical
halves

3. Asymmetrical

no specific shape
no plane can divide
the body into equal
or identical halves

Body Symmetry

Intro. to Frogs

Reasons why frogs are used as

representative specimen in Zoology:
1. Many similarities to higher vertebrates
and in
man in both form and structure.
2. Ease of manipulation
3. Inexpensive
4. Availability

Phylum : Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura or Salienta
Family: Ranidae
- soft, non-poisonous, slimy skin
Rana vittigera (rice field frog) Rana
catesbeiana (bull frog)

External Features of the frog:

2 Regions:
1. Axial Region
- head and trunk
2.Appendicular Region
- forelimbs and
hindlimbs

AXIAL REGION
Head:
snout
- flattened triangular border
external nares/ nostrils
eyelids (upper and lower)
nictitating membrane (3rd eyelid)
- outgrowth of the lower eyelid
tympanic membrane
- circular area of thin
membrane

- columella

Trunk

Hump
- dorsal elevated region
of the trunk

APPENDICULAR REGION
Forelimbs (Anterior
extremity)
- three subdivisions:
1. upper arm
2. forearm
3. manus/hand
Hindlimbs (Posterior
extremity )
- three parts
1. thigh
2. shank
3. pes/foot

How to differentiate male and female frog:

1. Male is smaller with
dark pigmented area
at the ventral side of
the head

2. Thumb is swollen in
male (during breeding
season)
- nuptial pad

3. Male frogs have

vocal sac

Buccal Cavity (Mouth Cavity)

Orbits or eyesockets
-pair of rounded prominences
Internal or posterior nares
- pair of rounded openings anterior to
the orbits
Vomers
- bony prominences between the
nares
-vomerine teeth
Maxillary teeth
- fine saw like teeth
- for holding the prey
Sulcus marginalis
- marginal groove internal
to maxillary teeth
- receives the lower jaw

Median subrostral fossa

- Depression in the sulcus
marginalis
- Located at the tip of
upper jaw
Pulvinar rostrale
- low elevation at the side
of the median subrostral
fossa
Lateral subrostral fossa
- depressions on
each sideof the
pulvinar rostrale

Eustachian tube
- located near the angles of the
jaw (posterior part)
- equalize pressure in the tympanic
membrane
Vocal sac
- pair of openings behind
the eustachian tube
-present only in male frog
Tuberculum prelinguale
- located at the tip of the lower jaw
- fits into the median subrostral
fossa
Prelingual fossa
- depressions on either side of
tuberculum prelinguale

Glottis
- narrow slit of
laryngeal prominence
- leads into the lungs
- cricoid and arytenoid
cartilages
Esophagus (gullet)
-leads to the stomach
Tongue
- flattened, bilobed