University of San Jose - Recoletos

College of Arts and Sciences

ACTIVITY NO. 14
INTEGUMENTARY SYSTEM
INTRODUCTION

Integumentary system is a skin located on the outer layer or body covering of animals that perform many
functions namely: protection, sensation, secretion, and synthesis of some substances. This system is divided
into two major strata, the epidermis, and dermis.

OBJECTIVES

1. Examine and describe the layers a frog’s skin.

2. Label the parts of a frog skin and interpret its function on land and in water.
3. Understand and describe frog’s body coverings.

MATERIALS
Prepared slide of a toad skin
Microscope

PROCEDURE
A. Mount a slide of a toad skin using under the low power objective. The toad skin is composed of the
epidermis and the dermis or corium. The epidermis is composed of epithelial cells, while the dermis is
composed mostly of connective tissue fibers.

B. Shift the objective to HPO and focus on the epidermal region. Note that the whole epidermis is made of
stratified squamous epithelium. There are two layers or strata namely:
1. Stratum corneum – outermost layer of the epidermis. This is composed of flat cells, which when
viewed from the outside it appears as polygonal cells. These are cornified cells and are constantly
shed by the frog. They are the same cells that have been studied as squamous epithelial cells.

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University of San Jose - Recoletos
College of Arts and Sciences

2. Stratum germinativum or stratum Malpighi – the cells of this layer are found close to the stratum
corneum made up cuboidal, while the cells in the inner layer gradually become columnar. The inner
layer of cells often contains chromatophores that appear as brownish spots in the section.

C. Focus the dermis, this is the region immediately below the epidermis. The dermis is also made up of two
strata.
1. Stratum laxum or spongiosum
Examine this layer closely and note the loose connective tissue fibers. This layer also contains
membrane pigment cells, which lie just under the stratum Malpighi of the epidermis. Numerous
bulb-like glands, and the mucous glands are also present on this layer. Focus one mucous gland that
appears flask-shaped with a narrow neck found in the stratum germinativum and round body found
in the stratum spongiosum. The secretion of this gland makes the frog’s body slimy. In some
specimens, much bigger gland can be seen. This is the poison gland that secretes poisonous
substances for defense and offense. Also found in this layer a section of blood vessels and nerves.
2. Stratum compactum
This appears as a solid, heavy mass of connective tissue fibers running more or less parallel to the
surface of the skin. At certain points, connective tissue fibers carry with them blood capillaries, nerve
cells and few muscle fibers.

Beneath the stratum compactum, you will find a region composed of loosely arrange connective tissue fibers.
This is not a part of the skin proper but it forms a boundary between the skin and the lymph spaces lying
beneath.

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University of San Jose - Recoletos
College of Arts and Sciences

LABORATORY WORKSHEET TOTAL SCORE:

ACTIVITY NO. 13
EXTERNAL ANATOMY OF A FROG
Name: _______________________________________________ Date: ____________________

Instructions:
Label the parts of a toad’s skin. (18 points)

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University of San Jose - Recoletos
College of Arts and Sciences

POST LABORATORY QUESTIONS

ACTIVITY NO. 14
INTEGUMENTARY SYSTEM

1. As to structure, differentiate mucus gland from poison gland. (2 points)

2. How do frogs breathe through their skin? (5 points)

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