SECOND QUARTER

PRELIMS

WEEK -1 (MARCH 11-18): ANNOUNCEMENT ONLY: Laboratory PPE

 Personal Protective Equipment
o Lab Gown
o Surgical Gloves
o Surgical Mask
o Safety Glasses (optional)

WEEK 0 (MARCH 18-25): ANNOUNCEMENT ONLY: Dissecting Kit Preparation & New
Groupings for the Second Quarter
 Dissecting Equipment
o Dissection tray - 12”x8”x2” Pan (See Week 1)
 12”x8”x2” Baking Pan

o Dissection pins
 Sewing Needles

o Probe or Dissection Needle

 Dissecting Probe
 Long Sewing Needle (As long as possible)
o Forceps
 Tweezers

o Surgical/ Dissecting scissors

o Scalpel

o Ruler
WEEK 1 (March 25-1): [Assignment] Dissecting Pan Preparation
PREPARATION OF DISSECTING PAN
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZWhDKV7m_M
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8rEdqkKf2w

Materials:
 Alcohol
 12”x8”x2” Pan
 Candle/Wax
Procedure:
1. Prepare a 12” x 8” x 2” pan.
2. Disinfect the pan using alcohol.
3. Place the candle in the pan.
4. Melt the candle over low heat until it is completely liquefied.
5. Once melted, remove all the wicks, leaving only the liquid wax in the pan.
6. Measure the wax level in the pan; if it is 1 inch, proceed. If not, add another candle until
the wax fills the pan to the 1-inch mark.
7. Allow the wax to cool for 4 hours in a sterile area.
8. Gently inspect the pan; if the wax is solid, it is ready for use in the next experiment.
9. If the wax is not solid, leave it for a couple of hours in a sterile environment
WEEK 1 (APRIL 8 & 10): Dissection Proper
Canarvacanan, Binalonan, Pangasinan

Laboratory Protocol
DISSECTION OF FROG
Introduction
Dissection is an important part of General Biology 2 course. Properly planned dissection
activities with clear learning goals allow students to observe similarities and differences among
organisms and improve student understanding of anatomy and physiology. Dissection safety
requires knowledge of preservatives and preserved materials, careful attention to safety
precautions, availability of required safety equipment and proper tools, instruction of dissection
procedures and advance planning for cleanup and disposal.

Why dissect a frog?

Frogs and humans are vertebrates with similar organ systems. Although all the internal organs
are not the same in frogs and humans, it is helpful to learn about anatomy through dissection. We
will be looking at each body system and exploring individual organs of the frog. Frogs and
humans have similar circulatory, digestive, respiratory, and nervous systems. They utilize most
of their body parts the same way except for species-specific characteristics, such as frogs’ ability
to breathe through their skin and humans’ capacity to use delicate tools with their fingers. These
characteristics are the result of evolution which will be distinct, especially for different animal
groups. Despite this, frogs and humans evolved with many anatomical similarities. We will make
comparisons of the frogs’ anatomy to our own. Studying both the external and internal anatomy
of frogs can further provide a better understanding of human anatomy. In order to best use this
opportunity to learn and show respect for the frog, we must follow all directions that are given to
us and follow all safety procedures.

Objective
There are many similarities between human and frog anatomy. This laboratory activity will help
in understanding the anatomy of frogs and how the different parts are similar to humans. In this
activity, the students will identify the external and internal parts of the frog, establish the
functions of the parts, and observe the similarity between frog and human anatomy.
Materials

 One live frog

 Printed Dissection Protocol
 Personal Protective Equipment
o Lab Gown
o Surgical Gloves
o Surgical Mask
o Safety Glasses (optional)
 Disinfectant alcohol
 Paper towels
 Cotton
 Newspapers
 Marker
 Dissecting Tray
 Dissecting Kit
o Dissection pins - Used to pin down skin and muscles, which allows for an
unobstructed view of internal anatomy.
o Probe or Dissection Needle - Used to tease and separate specimens, pin body
parts, and explore dissected animals
o Forceps - Used to lift and move cut tissue
o scissors or scalpel - Used to cut through soft tissue.
o Ruler - Used to measure the anatomy of the specimen.
 Bio Bags/Trash bags and a Ziploc bag
 Disinfectant soap
 Detergent

Dissection Safety Rules

 Personal Protective Equipment
o Lab Gown
o Surgical Gloves
o Surgical Mask
o Safety Glasses
1. Conduct yourself in a responsible and safe manner always during the dissection.
2. Wear safety glasses while you are dissecting even if you wear glasses or contact lenses.
 Contact lenses can hold chemicals in the eye(s) increasing the potential damage in the event
of an accidental splashing of chemicals into the eye(s).
3. Wear gloves and avoid contact with blood and other harmful substances.

Procedure

Step 1: Preparation

 Begin by arranging the dissecting tray, dissecting kit, and a marker neatly on the
designated table.
 Lay newspapers strategically under the dissecting tray to cover the entire table surface,
creating a clean and organized workspace.
 Retrieve the necessary tools, including the scalpel, forceps, probe, scissors, and pins.
Arrange them systematically around the dissecting tray for easy accessibility during the
dissection process.

Step 2: External Examination

 Wear surgical gloves and observe the external features of the frog.

NOTE: Once a glove has touched the specimen or instrument, it is contaminated. Avoid
unconscious gestures, such as scratching the face and adjusting safety glasses. Sanitize safety
glasses as needed.

 Observe and investigate the external part of the frogs. First look at the head of the frog,
then the body, the limbs, the underside, the top side, and lastly, the rear. Take note of
color, texture, and other distinctive external characteristics.

 Looking at the head, identify the 2 external nares at the head’s tip. These function as a
means of respiration.
  Find the round tympanic membranes that form the frog’s external sound receptors. You
will find these on the back side of the eyes.
 Look closely at the eyes and attempt to find the frog’s third eyelid; this is the nictitating
membrane that moistens and protects the eye. As the frog is deceased, this will appear as
a cloudy eyelid attached at the bottom of the eye; however, it would appear clear in a
living frog.
 Identify the cloaca, located at the specimen’s posterior end. The cloacal opening provides
the function of exit for all urinary, reproductive, and digestive systems.
 Reposition the frog to lie on its dorsal side.
 Carefully cut the jaw joints on each side of the mouth to enable you to open the mouth
wide.
 Locate the glottis (leads to the lungs) and esophagus opening (leads to the stomach).
 Conduct a dental analysis. You will find 2 sets of teeth. Firstly, locate the fine maxillary
teeth lining the upper jaw. Secondly, locate the two prominent vomerine teeth located
behind the mid-region of the upper jaw.
 On the sides of the roof of the frog’s mouth, you should see 2 openings; the eustachian
tubes that lead to the tympanic membranes you identified earlier. The function of these
tubes is to aid in pressure equalization
 Draw what you see in the external structures of the frog in your laboratory report.

Step 3: Double Pithing

 After investigating the external anatomy of the frog, the students prepared for the
dissection. They first needed to “double pith’ the frog. “Double Pithing” means
destroying the frog’s brain and spinal column to paralyze it and prevent it from feeling
pain during the dissection.

NOTE: If students find that their frog is too aggressive or active to handle, they can use cotton
with alcohol to weaken the frog. Simply place the cotton over the frog’s nose and wait until it
starts to calm or slow down. Once the frog has calmed down, the student can proceed with the
“pithing”.

 Watch the YouTube video for instructions in pithing

o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtvjlmrpuXE
o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmhfAGyvDkQ

Step 4: Skin Marking

 Place the frog on the tray with its belly facing upward and spread out its limbs.
 Secure the frog's limbs onto the tray using dissecting pins to maintain a stable and
accessible dissection position.
 Use the marker to draw lines to guide them during the cutting procedure.
 Draw a vertical line from the tip of the mouth to the point where the two hind legs meet
and two horizontal lines: one between the front legs, right under the mouth, and one
 across the area between the hind legs, perpendicular to the end of the vertical line. See the
figure below:

NOTE: Use the proper procedures described in the tutorial to pin the frog to the dissecting pan.
Use only quality dissection tools that are sharp and free of rust. Handle scalpels, razor blades
and other sharp instruments with care, and do not use excessive force when working with or
cleaning sharp instruments. Dull and dirty scissors, scalpels or blades are much more
dangerous that sharp, clean ones. Discard any instruments that are damaged and cannot be
repaired.

Step 5: Skin Cutting

 Utilize dissection scissors with caution, avoiding excessive force, especially during deep
cuts, as these can pose a risk of slicing through internal organs.

NOTE: Deep cuts are more dangerous and may slice through internal organs. Dissection pins
are used to hold the skin back and improve visibility—they do not hold the specimen to the tray.
The specimen may slide during dissection if too much pressure is used.

 Do not dissect the frog while holding it.

 Always keep dissection tools in the dissection pan, when working and when moving the
pan.
 Use forceps to delicately lift the skin, minimizing the risk of damage to other internal
structures. Employ dissecting scissors to make an incision starting from the point where
the hind legs meet, moving perpendicularly just below the arms, following the marked
lines.
 Cut a transverse line just above the legs, following the marking lines.
 Always cut away from your body and away from others.
  After making incisions, gently pull the skin and loosen the tissue attaching it to the
muscles using a scalpel. Exercise extreme care to avoid damaging muscles, as this can
lead to bleeding. Repeat this procedure on the other side.
 If bleeding, use paper towels or cottons.
 After cutting the necessary parts, the dissecting pins are used to secure the frog’s skin to
the dissecting tray and prevent it from covering or touching the internal parts.

Step 6: Muscle Cutting

 Once the cut skin is securely pinned to the dissecting tray, proceed with cutting the
muscles.
 Follow the same incisions previously made in cutting the skin.
 Begin cutting vertically from the area between the hind legs and then move on to the
horizontal cuts behind the arms and above the hind legs.
 Exercise extreme care when cutting around the chest.
 Use forceps, as in the previous step, to delicately secure the muscles, preventing damage
to other internal structures. IT IS CRUCIAL TO BE EXCEPTIONALLY CAUTIOUS
TO AVOID CUTTING ANY INTERNAL ORGANS.
 Employ dissection pins to secure the dissected muscles to the dissecting tray.

NOTE: The students had to pin the muscles overlapping the skin since the length of the muscles
was shorter.

Step 7: Internal Organ Observation

 Begin observing and investigating the internal organs of the frog and how they are similar
to human anatomy.
 Use the scalpel to move the organs around and better view other parts.
 Locate and take a documentation of the following:
o Fat bodies
o Peritoneum
o Liver
o Heart
o Lungs
o Gallbladder
o Stomach
o Small Intestine
o Large Intestine
o Spleen
o Esophagus

STOP! If you have not located each of the organs above, do not
continue to the next section!
  Removal of the Stomach:
 Cut the stomach out of the frog and open it up. You may find what remains of the frog's
last meal in there. Take note of the texture of the stomach lining.
 Measuring the Small intestine:
o Remove the small intestine from the body cavity and carefully separate the
mesentery from it.
o Stretch the small intestine out and measure it.
o Now measure your frog (tip of head to the end of the vertebrae).
o Record the measurements
 Take detailed notes on the precise location of each organ within the frog's body. Proceed
with the systematic removal of each organ to enhance visibility and gain a comprehensive
understanding of the anatomy. Document the details of each organ
 Place each removed organ on the dissecting tray, being mindful of their names and
functions.

Step 8: Clean-up and Disposal

 After the investigation process, clean up the area and disposed of the body and organs
properly.
 Place the frog and the removed organs in the trash bag.
 Secure the trash bag in a Ziploc bag and threw it along with the dissection tray and
surgical gloves.
 For the dissection tools, the students used a disinfectant soap to wash them.

NOTE: Never remove frogs or frog parts from the classroom. Properly dispose of dissected
materials.
 Wash hands thoroughly before leaving the laboratory.
 Clean and dry all equipment.
 Drying instruments thoroughly is important to prevent rust—dry sharp items by wiping
on paper towels and allow air to circulate around the items until they are completely dry
 Return all equipment to its designated place.
 Double-bag specimens, along with gloves and disposable aprons, in opaque garbage bags.
 Discard in an appropriate, secure container
 Remove gloves and throw them away.
 Wash hands for at least 15 seconds before leaving the lab.
Learning Outcomes:
Written Works
1. Written Worksheet of the Laboratory (Deadline: W2, April 15 & 17)

Performance Tasks
1. Laboratory Documentation/Laboratory Report (Deadline: W4, April 22&24)
 In an A4 Bond Paper
 Maintain a detailed, organized lab notebook throughout the dissection.
 Include labeled diagrams, sketches, and notes on each step of the dissection.
o Step 1-8
 Note observations, challenges faced, and any unexpected findings.

Rubric for Laboratory Documentation:

 Organization (30 points): Clear and logical arrangement of information in the lab
notebook.
 Accuracy (30 points): Correct labeling, detailed observations, and accurate
representation of the frog's anatomy.
 Content (20 points): Thoughtful commentary on the process, challenges, and
unexpected findings.
 Neatness and Presentation (20 points): Neat, clear diagrams, and overall visual
appeal.
2. Vlog (Deadline: May 6)
 Create a vlog documenting the entire frog dissection process.
 Clearly articulate the purpose of the frog dissection, emphasizing the educational value
and the opportunity to explore anatomical similarities between frogs and humans.
 Provide a step-by-step commentary on the dissection, highlighting key structures and
functions.
 Ensure clear video and audio quality. Use proper lighting to enhance visibility. Add
captions or annotations for better comprehension.
 Conclude with a summary of key learnings and reflections.

Rubric for Vlog:

 Content (40 points): Clear explanation of the dissection process, accurate
identification of structures, and insightful commentary.
 Presentation (30 points): Video and audio quality, engaging delivery, and
effective use of visuals.
 Reflection (20 points): Thoughtful summary and personal reflections on the
learning experience.
 Overall Quality (10 points): Professionalism, creativity, and adherence to
guidelines.