Frog by Angela Jackson
Frogs are amphibians that must live in moist environments to support one of their main mechanisms of respiration: cutaneous respiration. Frogs have the ability to breathe many different ways, due to their unusual life cycle and aquatic and terrestrial environment. The order Anura demonstrates the extreme anatomical and physiological diversity that can be found within the animal kingdom.
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Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata Class: Amphibia Order: Anura |
Mechanisms of Frog Respiration (2):
1. Gills
For many frogs, their life cycle includes a "tadpole" or larval stage of
development. Eggs are laid into ponds or lakes, and upon hatching the tadpole uses internal and external gills in order to respire within their aquatic environment. The gills filter oxygen from the water and dispose of respiratory waste products. Upon maturation from a tadpole into a frog, these gills are lost.
2. Lungs- Postive Pressure Breathing
Many frogs use lungs to respire, bringing in air through their nares and mouth, into the trachea and then to the lungs for gas exchange and uptake of oxygen. However, frogs lack the diaphragm that is an anatomical structure present in many other species. The diaphragm is a muscle used to create a pressure gradient to draw air into the lungs. This is negative pressure breathing. Because they lack this feature, frogs use positive pressure breathing and must actively push air into their lungs.
Many frogs use lungs to respire, bringing in air through their nares and mouth, into the trachea and then to the lungs for gas exchange and uptake of oxygen. However, frogs lack the diaphragm that is an anatomical structure present in many other species. The diaphragm is a muscle used to create a pressure gradient to draw air into the lungs. This is negative pressure breathing. Because they lack this feature, frogs use positive pressure breathing and must actively push air into their lungs.
3. Cutaneous Respiration
The skin of many frogs is thin and highly vascular to allow for gas exchange. Because of their thin skin, frogs must live in moist environments and secrete mucous from their skin to avoid desiccation. Cutaneous respiration also allows for the frog to remain almost completely submerged under water for long periods of time, while still oxygenating their blood.
The skin of many frogs is thin and highly vascular to allow for gas exchange. Because of their thin skin, frogs must live in moist environments and secrete mucous from their skin to avoid desiccation. Cutaneous respiration also allows for the frog to remain almost completely submerged under water for long periods of time, while still oxygenating their blood.
4. Buccopharyngeal Membrane
Frogs can also have gas exchange across the thin, highly vascular buccopharyngeal membrane, a lining along the mouth. This type of respiration can only occur while the frog is not submerged in water, as it requires opening of the mouth (3).
Frogs can also have gas exchange across the thin, highly vascular buccopharyngeal membrane, a lining along the mouth. This type of respiration can only occur while the frog is not submerged in water, as it requires opening of the mouth (3).
Relating Article: Respiratory and Behavioral Effects of Ozone on a Lizard and a Frog (4)
This article addresses possible correlations between increases in air pollution and ozone levels and declines in frog populations, due to inefficient cutaneous respiration.
Link: http://www.naherpetology.org/pdf_files/280.pdf
Video : Respiratory Organs in Amphibians
Did you know?
"Frog breathing", or glossopharyngeal breathing is a technique developed for humans that mimics the positive pressure breathing found in frogs. Historically it has been used by deep-sea divers to fill their lungs with a maximum amount of air prior to a long dive. This technique has also been used in the past by polio survivors to breathe during emergency situations when they were without ventilation equipment (1).
"Frog breathing", or glossopharyngeal breathing is a technique developed for humans that mimics the positive pressure breathing found in frogs. Historically it has been used by deep-sea divers to fill their lungs with a maximum amount of air prior to a long dive. This technique has also been used in the past by polio survivors to breathe during emergency situations when they were without ventilation equipment (1).