DISSECTION WORKS: THE FROG
GLOSSARY



adductor magnus
adducts thigh

adrenal body
gland perched upon the kidney; produces epinephrine (adrenalin)

anconeus
extends forelimb

anterior end
towards the front (ventral)

anterior vena cava
drains blood from the head and neck area before emptying into the sinus venosus

astragalus
one of the two tarsal bones; paired with the calcaneum

atrium
the heart chamber that receives blood from the veins

brachial
term referring to the (upper) arm

brachial nerve
nerve produced from nerves 1, 2 and 3 of the brachial plexus; supplies forelimb

brachial plexus
three nerves branching off the spinal cord that give rise to the brachial nerve

bronchus
air passageway leading to the lungs
calcaneum
one of the two tarsal bones of the frog's "ankle"; paired with the astragalus

carpals
small bones of the forelimb located between the radioulna and metacarpals

caudal
located towards the tail region

cerebrum
the two lobes posterior to the olfactory lobes

cloaca
a common chamber that receives materials from the digestive, excretory, and reproductive systems

coccygeal nerve
nerve located near the distal end of the spinal cord controlling the cloacal area

coccygeoiliacus
muscle located along the inferior aspect of the frog' s back that assists in flexing the thigh

coeliac artery
artery supplying the anterior portion of the gut

coeliacomesenteric arter y
single vessel that gives rise to the coeliac and mesenteric arteries; supplies several internal organs

common iliac artery
artery formed by the branching of the dorsal aorta and supplying the hindleg

conus arteriosus
the large, y-shaped vessel in front of the frog's heart

cranial nerves
nerves originating along the base of the brain rather than off the spinal cord

cutaneous artery
artery supplying the skin

cutaneous pectoris
adducts humerus

deltoid
abducts forelimb

depressor mandibulae
lowers the mandible (lower jaw)

dorsal aorta
major artery supplying most of the trunk and hindlegs; formed by the union of the right and left systemic arch

dorsal surfac e
the surface located along the back (posterior)

dorsalis scapulae
retracts forelimbs; located between the forelimbs just posterior to the tympanum

eggs
female germ cells; produced in the ovaries and released externally for fertilization by the male

epigastric artery
artery supplying the top of the stomach

esophagus
the tube that connects the mouth with the stomach

extensor cruris
flexes toes and foot

external carotid
supplies blood to tongue and floor of the mouth

external jugular vein
drains blood from the tongue and floor of the mouth

external nares
openings similiar to the nostrils of humans

external oblique
compresses the side-walls of the abdomen

eye
the organ of sight; in frogs it is best designed to see movement and horizons

femoral artery
supplies blood to the thigh and lower leg

femoral nerve
nerve that branches directly off the spinal cord

femoral vein
drains blood from the thigh and lower leg

femur
large bone in the thigh

filum terminale
tapered covering at the distal end of the spinal cord

forelimb
small, front leg used primarily as prop when sitting upright

gall bladder
small, greenish colored sac located under the liver; stores bile

gastrocnemius
the "calf" muscle; plantar-flexes the toes

glottis
the opening between the throat and the lungs

gracilis major
adducts the thigh and flexes the leg

gracilis minor
adducts the thigh and flexes the leg

gullet
the opening into the esophagus

heart
muscular blood pump; three chambered in frogs

hepatic vein
drains the liver

hepatic portal vein
carries blood from the stomach and intestines (with digested food) to the liver

hindlimb
posterior apendage used primarily for locomotion

humerus
bone in upper forelimb

hyoglossus
muscle that tenses throat and tongue

hypogastric artery
carries blood to the bladder and body wall

iliofibularis
muscle of the thigh that assists in flexing the lower leg

iliohypogastric nerve
supplies the abdominal skin and muscles

ilium
lateral bone forming the side of the frog's pelvis

internal carotid artery
supplies blood to the brain and deep head structures

internal jugular vein
returns blood from the brain and deep head structures

ischium
the most caudal bone forming the frog's pelvis

kidney
paired, dark-brown organ located in the frog's abdominal sidewall used to filter blood of metabolic wastes

large intestine
enlargement just distal to the small intestine and proximal to the cloaca; removes excess water from solid wastes

larynx
enlarged area just below the glottis and proximal to the trachea

latissimus dorsi
muscle of the dorsal surface used to abduct the forelimbs

lingual vein
drains blood from under the tongue area

liver
large, dark-brown digestive gland located in the upper abdomen

longissimus dorsi
muscle of the back that assists in erecting the spine

lung
paired, thin-walled respiratory organs located lateral to the heart

mandibular vein
drains blood from the area of the lower jaw
maxilla
the upper jawbone bordered by the premaxilla anteriorly and the nasal medially

medial geniohyoid
muscle located under the lower jaw

medulla oblongata
controls basic body functions such as heart rate and breathing

metacarpals
handbones of the forelimb

metatarsals
footbones of the hindlimb

musculocutaneous
drains blood from the skin and muscles of the trunk

mylohyoid
muscle located under the jaw that assists in swallowing and vocalization

nasal
bone of the skull located immediately posterior to the premaxilla

olfactory lobe
brain area involved in the sense of smell

optic lobe
brain area involved in the sense of sight

ostium
opening to the proximal end of the oviduct

oviduct
tube that carries eggs from the ovary to the cloacal opening

pancreas
gland that produces both insulin and digestive enzymes; located in the mesentery inferior to the stomach
pectoralis
abducts the foreleg

pelvic vein
vein connecting the femoral vein and the ventral abdominal vein

peroneus
muscle on the anterior aspect of the lower hindleg that dorsi-flexes the foot

phalanges
finger and toe bones

posterior end
located away from the front; towards the back

posterior vena cava
(the postcaval vein); drains blood from the gonads and kidneys before emptying into the sinus venosus

pulmonary artery
vessel that carries deoxygenated blood to the lungs from the right atrium

pulmonary vein
drains oxygenated blood from the lungs to the left atrium

radioulna
bone in the lower forelimb distal to the humerus

rectus abdominis
muscle located over the abdomen used to compress the abdominal contents

rectus anticus femoris
a component of the triceps femoris that abducts the thigh and extends the leg

renal vein
drains blood from the kidney


renal portal vein
receives filtered blood from the kidney's interior

right aortic arch
right branch distal to the truncus arteriosus that partially gives rise to the dorsal aorta

sacral vertebra
bone that articulates between the ilium and orostyle of the hip

sartorius
muscle on the ventral aspect of the thigh that assists in flexing the lower leg

sciatic artery
supplies blood to the leg and foot

sciatic nerve
large nerve supplying the leg and foot

sciatic vein
drains blood from the foot and leg

semimembranosis
muscle located on the mediodorsal aspect of the thigh used to flex the leg and adduct the thigh

skin
the highly vascularized (loaded with blood vessels), outer covering of the frog

small intestine
organ distal to the stomach where most digestion takes place

sperm
the male reproductive cells, or gametes, made in the testes

spinal cord
carries nervous messages to and from the brain as well as producing spinal reflexes
spinal nerve
type of nerve that branches directly off the spinal cord

spleen
round, reddish-brown organ located inferior to the stomach that removes old red blood cells from circulation

sternoradialis
located caudal to the mylohyoid; assists in adduction of the humerus

stomach
large, curved organ located to the ventral right of the liver; holds and prepares food for digestion in the small intestine

subclavian artery
supplies blood to the forelimb

subclavian vein
a continuation of the brachial vein; drains forelimb

subscapular vein
drains blood from the upper foreleg and shoulder

tarsals
collective name for bones comprising the ankle

temporalis
muscle located posterior to the eye and anterior to the typmpanum

testis
organ that produces sperm

tibialis anticus longus
muscle located under the peroneus on the anterior surface of the tibia; assists in dorsi-flexing the foot and toes

tibiofibula
fused bone (tibia and fibula) located between the femur and the tarsals


tongue
attached at the front of the mouth and is used in capturing prey

triceps femoris
large, powerful muscle, composed of three parts, used to extend the lower leg

truncus arteriosus
name applied to the aorta at the point where it exits the ventricle

tympanum
the visible, external ear drum

ureter
tube that carries urine from the kidney to the bladder

urinary bladder
sac used to store urine before it dumps into the cloaca for voiding

urogenital arteries
vessel that carries blood to the reproductive organs, kidneys and fat bodies

urostyle
central-most bone forming part of the pelvic girdle

uterus
ovisac used to store eggs before they are released to be fertilized

vastus externus
posterior head of the triceps femoris muscle

vastus internus
anterior head of the triceps femoris muscle

ventral abdominal vein
returns blood from the renal portal system back to the heart

ventral surface
on the side opposite the front (stomach) side; opposite of dorsal surface
ventricle
the single, lower (inferior) pumping chamber of the heart