The key difference between frog and human integumentary system is that frog integumentary system can absorb water while human integumentary system is waterproof.
Frog and human body structures share many similarities. They both have a similar type of organs and organ systems. The integumentary system is an organ system comprised of skin, nails, hair, and exocrine glands. Skin is the largest organ of frogs and humans. This article focuses on the difference between frog and human integumentary system.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Frog Integumentary System
3. What is Human Integumentary System
4. Similarities Between Frog and Human Integumentary System
5. Side by Side Comparison – Frog vs Human Integumentary System in Tabular Form
6. Summary
What is Frog Integumentary System?
Frog integumentary system mainly comprises of skin. Frog skin is thin, slippery and moist. It appears in different colours, including green, black and brown, etc. Moreover, frogs can camouflage. Frogs have a special ability to breathe underwater through their skin, so frog skin serves as a respiratory system for them. It is a type of cutaneous respiration. However, in order to breathe, the skin should be moist. Hence, they often live near water. Moreover, frogs can absorb water through their skin, so they don’t need to drink water. In addition, frog skin is able to exchange nutrients and perceive stimuli from the environment.
Figure 01: Frog Skin
Structurally, frog skin has two layers as epidermis and dermis. The epidermis has two layers: stratum corneum and stratum germinativum. Dermis also has two regions as stratum spongiosum and stratum compactum. Frog skin comprises two types of glands: mucous and poison glands. Therefore, they secrete mucus and poisons.
What is Human Integumentary System?
Human integumentary system or skin is the largest organ system in the body. Human skin is smooth and white or brown in colour. There are three main layers of the skin. They are epidermis, dermis and subcutaneous layer. The epidermis is the outermost layer which protects the body. Subcutaneous layer helps in storing fat while dermis provides strength and flexibility. In addition to protection, human skin can feel pressure, temperature, and pain. Moreover, human skin produces vitamin D. It also involves in the regulation of body heat.
Figure 02: Human Skin
The human skin possesses several glands such as sweat glands, and oil glands. Moreover, it has sensory receptors, fingernails, hairs, etc. Unlike the frog skin, human skin cannot change its colour or camouflage. Moreover, it cannot secrete poisons. In addition, humans cannot breathe or absorb water through their skin.
What are the Similarities Between Frog and Human Integumentary System?
- Skin is the largest organ in the body of frogs and humans.
- Both frog and human integumentary systems cover the body and protect the underneath structures.
- There are epidermis and dermis in both skins.
- Both skins work as sensory organs.
- They also contain excretory organs.
- They possess pigments.
- Both frog and human skins regulate body heat.
What is the Difference Between Frog and Human Integumentary System?
Frog integumentary system refers to the frog skin, which is the largest organs system in the frog body. Human integumentary system is the human skin and its appendages. Frog skin can absorb water, while human skin cannot absorb water. So, this is the key difference between frog and human integumentary system.
Moreover, frog skin serves as a respiratory organ while human skin does not. Another major difference between frog and human integumentary system is that frog skin secretes poisons while human skin does not.
The below infographic tabulates more differences between frog and human integumentary system.
Summary – Frog vs Human Integumentary System
Frog skin and human skin differ from each other due to several facts. Frog skin is thin, slippery and moist while human skin is smooth, oily and not moist. Frog skin can breathe, absorb water and secrete poisons and mucus. Human skin, on the other hand, cannot breathe, absorb water and secrete poisons. Another major difference between frog and human integumentary system is that frog skin can camouflage while human skin cannot. Moreover, frog skin is green, black or brown while human skin is white or brown. This summarizes the difference between frog and human integumentary system.
Reference:
1. “Integumentary System”. Innerbody, 2020, Available here.
2. “The Organ Systems/Integumentary – Wikibooks, Open Books For An Open World”. En.Wikibooks.Org, 2020, Available here.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Red eyed tree frog edit2” By Careyjamesbalboa (Carey James Balboa) – Transferred from en.wikipedia to Commons by Natox., Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Skin” By US-Gov – (as last archived 2008-06-12 09:37:35 at here) as displayed by Anatomy of the Skin (as last archived 2008-06-12 09:37:35 at Anatomy of the Skin), (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia
