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Exercise 8: Embryology of The Frog

The document summarizes the key stages in frog embryology: 1) Early cell division stages including the 2-cell, 4-cell, morula, and blastula stages. 2) Gastrulation stages including the gastrula, neurula fold, and neural tube stages where the three germ layers form. 3) Later tadpole stages including the external gill, internal gill, and tadpole stages where respiratory organs develop and the tadpole prepares for metamorphosis into a frog.

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Daks Zabate
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321 views4 pages

Exercise 8: Embryology of The Frog

The document summarizes the key stages in frog embryology: 1) Early cell division stages including the 2-cell, 4-cell, morula, and blastula stages. 2) Gastrulation stages including the gastrula, neurula fold, and neural tube stages where the three germ layers form. 3) Later tadpole stages including the external gill, internal gill, and tadpole stages where respiratory organs develop and the tadpole prepares for metamorphosis into a frog.

Uploaded by

Daks Zabate
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Exercise 8

Embryology of the Frog

Results

2-Cell Stage 4-Cell Stage Morula Stage

Blastula stage Gastrula Stage Neurula Fold Stage


Neurula Groove Stage Neural Tube Stage

External Gill Stage Internal Gill Stage

Tadpole Stage
Answer the following questions.

1. How would you differentiate the blastula stage from the gastrula stage?

The difference between blastula stage from gastrula stage is that blastula is an
animal embryo at the early stage of development when it is a hollow ball of cells while
gastrula is an embryo at the stage following the blastula, when it is a hollow cup-
shaped structure having three layers of cells. Blastula is a spherical, hollow, one celled
thick structure, found during the first stage of embryogenesis, and is known as the 'pre-
embryo'. The gastrula is formed during the gastrulation stage of embryogenesis, and
consists of three germ layers, with the structure known as the 'mature-embryo'.
2. Why is cell division faster in the animal pole than in the vegetal pole?
The animal pole consists of small cells that divide rapidly, in contrast with the
vegetal pole below it. In some cases, the animal pole is thought to differentiate into the
later embryo itself, forming the three primary germ layers and participating
in gastrulation. The animal pole is heavily pigmented while the vegetal pole remains
unpigmented. The vegetal pole contains large yolky cells that divide very slowly, in
contrast with the animal pole above it. In some cases, the vegetal pole is thought to
differentiate into the extraembryonic membranes that protect and nourish the
developing embryo, such as the placenta in mammals and the chorion in birds. The
development of the animal-vegetal axis occurs prior to fertilization. Sperm entry can
occur anywhere in the animal hemisphere. The point of sperm entry defines the dorso-
ventral axis - cells opposite the region of sperm entry will eventually form the dorsal
portion of the body.

3. How does the external gill stage differ from the internal gill stage?
Shortly after hatching, the finger-like external gills develop rapidly on the posterior
sides of the head and these constitute the only respiratory organs. Simultaneously with
the opening of the mouth a series of visceral clefts (gill slits) develop as perforations in
the pharyngeal wall, and their walls become folded to form internal gills. The external
gills gradually lose their function in favor of the internal gills. They then become
covered over by a posterior growth of tissue known as the operculum. There remains
but a single excurrent pore, the spiracle, on the left side at the posterior margin of the
operculum. There are but few changes in the respiratory system from this stage until
metamorphosis begins at about IV months. Meanwhile the internal gills lose their
function in favor of lungs at metamorphosis and this allows the aquatic tadpole to
become a terrestrial frog. When the tadpole begins to develop its lungs it frequently
comes to the surface for air. The forelimbs begin to grow through the operculum, and,
about 2.5 months after the eggs are fertilized, the hind legs begin to emerge and the
tadpole is ready for the critical respiratory and excretory changes that accompany
metamorphosis.

4. What are the major difference between frog embryology and human
embryology?
Frog embryology is the study of the embryonic cycles of a frog, while human
embryology is the study of the embryo and embryonic cycles of humans

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