Digestive System of a Frog

The digestion process begins in the mouth.

• The Tongue: The frog has a unique, highly muscular, sticky tongue that is attached to the front of the mouth (unlike humans). It can instantly shoot it out to catch flying insects.
• Teeth: Frogs have tiny maxillary teeth on the upper jaw and Vomerine teeth on the roof of the mouth. However, they do not chew their food. The teeth are only used to grip the struggling prey so it doesn't escape before being swallowed whole.

• The swallowed food passes through a short esophagus and enters the stomach.
• The muscular walls of the stomach secrete Hydrochloric Acid (HCl) and gastric juices containing the enzyme Pepsin, which begins the digestion of proteins.
• The partially digested, acidic food is now called chyme.

• Small Intestine: The chyme enters the duodenum (first part of the intestine). Here, two major organs dump their chemicals:
  • The Liver produces Bile (stored in the gall bladder), which breaks down fats.
  • The Pancreas secretes pancreatic juices to digest carbohydrates and proteins.
• Digestion is completed here, and the inner walls of the intestine, covered in tiny finger-like microvilli, absorb the nutrients into the blood.

• The undigested solid waste moves into the large intestine (rectum) where water is absorbed.
• Unlike humans, frogs do not have a separate opening for solid waste. The rectum opens into a common chamber called the Cloaca.
• The Cloaca serves as a single exit hole for three systems: solid digestive waste, liquid urine, and reproductive sperm/eggs.