MARIANO MARCOS STATE UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

Department of Biological Sciences

Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy

Laboratory Activity No.

THE INTEGUMENT

Introduction:

The term skeleton includes all of the hardened portions of the bodies of animals. The
skeleton of the invertebrates are commonly external, forming a hard covering inclosing the body,
while that of the vertebrates are both present externally and internally. There are two distinct
kinds of skeletons in vertebrates, different in origin and function: (1) the external skeleton or
exoskeleton, derived from the skin, and forming a covering and protective layer on the outside of
the body; (2) the internal skeleton, or endoskeleton, derived chiefly from the inner wall of the
epimere, and constituting a support and framework for the body and place of attachment of the
voluntary muscles.
Since the exoskeleton is derived from the skin, the structure of the skin must be first
understood. The skin occurs only in vertebrates and may be defined as a surface structure
covering easily separable from the underlying muscular layer of the wall.
Thus, the study on the microscopic structures reveals that consist of two distinct parts: an
outer layer, the epidermis, composed of epithelial cells and derived from the ectoderm of the
embryo; and an inner layer, the dermis, corium or cutis, composed of connective tissue and
formed from the mesenchyme of the dermatome, which turn comes from the epimere.

Procedure:

Using the representative from each class do the following:

A. External Structure:
Put all the sample specimen in a container with lid, large enough to
accommodate the specimen. Using cotton, soak the cotton in a beaker with chloroform
with protective gloves and under a fume hood.
Illustrate the each of the specimen (use picture) and label the following parts.

For the Fish: Eyes, mouth, nostrils (external nares), operculum, dorsal fins (2), caudal
fin, pectoral fins, pelvic fins anal fin, lateral line, anus

For the Frog: head, trunk, forelimbs, hind limbs, eyes, nostrils, eyelids, nictitating
membrane, tympanic membrane (ear drum), anus

For the Lizard: head, mouth, eyes, nostrils, cloacal opening Refer to:
(https://www.notesonzoology.com/phylum-chordata/garden-lizard/external-morphology-of-garden-lizard-
with-diagram-chordata-zoology/8383#:~:text=Body%20is%20elongated%2C%20slender%2C
%20lizard,is%20not%20so%20brightly%20coloured.
 For the Bird: refer to the external anatomy of a bird

For the mice: head, trunk and limbs and other external features

B. General Remarks on the Exoskeleton

The exoskeleton is derived from the skin by hardening process in epidermis or dermis or
both. Exoskeleton derived from the epidermis is spoken of as epidermal; it is produced
by the activity of the stratum germinativum and consists of many flat horny cells
pressed firmly together to make a hard structure. Epidermal exoskeleton structure
Epidermal exoskeleton derived from the dermis is called dermal, consist of bone or
substance allied to bone and is produce by mesenchymal cell originating from the
dermatome.
Embryologically, epidermal exoskeleton is of ectodermal origin, dermal exoskeleton of
mesodermal origin. They thus differ both structurally and embryologically. Epidermal
and dermal exoskeleton obviously cannot be homologous to each other; but it is not
necessarily true that all structures of epidermal origin are homologous among
themselves or dermal structures among themselves. Topographical relations and details
of development must be taken into account.

Using the book of Hyman on page 84, differentiate enamel, dentine and bone prior to
this activity.

Using the representative animals, determine the anatomy and morphology of the
integument and accessory parts present in each animal.

For the Fish:

Fish are clothed with scales which is probably are wholly of the dermal origin.
They are compose of substances similar to, or allied to, bone; and the most primitive
types of fish scales consist of or contain of dentine.

There are six kinds of fish scales, using the Hyman book (p84-88) summarize in a
tabulated form the various types of scales.
Types Illustration with Description Function
label
1
2
3
4
5
6
 Study your sample fish and identify the type of scale it possesses. Cut out a small
piece of the skin containing one spine. Clean away the skin so as to expose the complete
scale. Examine the isolated scales under a dissecting microscope and note the structure.
Illustrate and label. Take a photomicrograph and include in the report. Actual image and
illustrated image will be provided with complete labeling.
What type of scale does the specimen have?
Illustrate and label:

Photomicrograph Under (indicate Illustration (indicate magnification, types

magnification, types of microscope used of microscope used and the specimen
and the specimen name and type of scale) name and type of scale)

Do the same process with the dermal fins found at the dorsal part of the fish.
Illustrate and label.

Photomicrograph Under (indicate Illustration (indicate magnification, types

magnification, types of microscope used of microscope used and the specimen
and the specimen name) name)

For the histological observation. Focus the slides provided by the technician and focus
using 100X total magnification and 400xtotal magnification.
Note the various parts epidermis, dermis, bony scales and connective tissues.
 Photomicrograph Under (indicate Illustration (indicate magnification, types
magnification, types of microscope used of microscope used and the specimen
and the specimen name) name)

For the Amphibia:

Compare the skin of frog with the skin of fish. ____________________________

________________________.

Using amphibian skin cross section. Focus the slides provided by the technician
and focus using 100X total magnification and 400xtotal magnification. Locate the
following parts: epidermis, dermis and numerous mucous glands.

Photomicrograph Under (indicate Illustration (indicate magnification, types

magnification, types of microscope used of microscope used and the specimen
and the specimen name) name)

For the Reptiles:

The bodies of reptiles are characteristically clothed in a horny exoskeleton

marked off into scales or scalelike areas. These are of epidermal origin, representing
thickened areas of the stratum corneum. In the formation of such a thickening a dermal
papilla first appears to furnish nutriment for the process, and the stratum germinativum
over the dermal papilla begins to proliferate rapidly, producing cells which flatten,
cornify, and compress into a scale or scale like area. Such scales are never separable, like
the scales of fishes, but are simply thickened parts of continuous horny layers. The
scales of reptiles and of fishes are thus wholly different structures.
Using the specimen, examine the exoskeleton of lizard. There are bony plates
under the scales.
 Describe your observation. Compare this with the fish. _____________________
________________________________________________________________________
____________________.

For the histological observation. Focus the slides provided by the technician and focus
using 100X total magnification and 400xtotal magnification.
Note the various parts of the integumentary tissue refer to Hyman p 90.
Note that the skin of a typical reptile has been thickened and waterproofed with the
addition of epidermal scales. Note that the scales are on the surface of the epidermis
rather than under the epidermis as they were in fish skin

Photomicrograph Under (indicate Illustration (indicate magnification, types

magnification, types of microscope used of microscope used and the specimen
and the specimen name) name)

For the Birds:

Birds are clothed in an exoskeleton consisting of feathers on the greater part of

the body, scales and claws on the feet, and horny beaks, all of epidermal origin, formed
from the stratum corneum. The scales, claws and beaks are obviously indicative of
reptilian descent. Feathers are believed to be homologous to reptilian scales but
resemble them only in the very earliest stages of formation. Dermal exoskeleton is
lacking in birds.
Plucked the feathers at various parts of the body. And using the Hyman as
reference (P91-93) describe the three kinds of adult feathers.

Kinds of adult Description Function

feather
1
2
3
 Photo of the feather, indicate the kind of Illustration indicate the kind of feather
feather being shown and the species being illustrated and the species where it
where it belong and part where it was belong and part where it was collected
collected

For the histological observation. Focus the slides provided by the technician and focus
using 100X total magnification and 400xtotal magnification.

Photomicrograph Under (indicate Illustration (indicate magnification, types

magnification, types of microscope used of microscope used and the specimen
and the specimen name) name)

For the Mammals:

The exoskeleton of mammals consists primarily of hairs, found in no other

vertebrates; however, a number of mammals are secondarily almost devoid of hair, as
elephants, hippopotamus, rhinoceros, although the embryo of some of these possess a
complete coat of hairs. In some mammals scales are present in addition to hairs.
Get a prepared slide of hair from the technician. focus using 100X total
magnification and 400xtotal magnification.

Photomicrograph Under (indicate Illustration (indicate magnification, types

 magnification, types of microscope used of microscope used and the specimen
and the specimen name) name)

Number of mammals possess horny scales like those of reptiles. These may cover
the body in imbricated fashion, as in the scaly anteaters, but commonly occur only on
the tails or legs. Such scaly parts are also provided with scanty hairs. Examine the tail of
a mice and study the scales and hairs upon it.

Illustrate the structure of the tail scale and label

Refer to Hyman P 96 and locate other accessory parts of the integument found in mice.