Oviduct topography and irrigation in the bullfrog Lithobates catesbeianus (Shaw, 1802)

Abstract

The bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) is a species native to North America. It can reach about 20 cm in length and a body weight of 500 g. We used 30 adult frogs of the species Lithobates catesbeianus laying eggs to observe the oviduct. The animals were euthanized for studying visceral topography and vascular distribution after injection of red stained latex in the arterial bed. Oviduct in the frog L. catesbeianus is located into the pleural abdominal cavity, dorsally, extending from the cranial to the caudal region. Irrigation in the region of infundibulum and magnum, on both antimeres, is made by the arterial branch of the brachiocephalic trunk. Isthmus has two sources, the cranial and medial arteries of the oviduct, except the junction close to the ovisac. In isthmus and in the ovisac itself, irrigation occurs through the caudal artery of the oviduct, which derives from the pudendal artery.

Keywords

• Anatomy
• Frog
• Oviduct
• Lithobates catesbeianus
• Vascularization