This content is designed for Middle School instruction. This is the foundation for the high school module (Go to).
• Begin with
the history of the sarcomere and with cross sections of different bands.
(2 D figures)
• List the
vocabulary for a sarcomere so the students can label.
• How do the
cross sections create a banding pattern? Have them create their models
(2 D-3 D models).
• Possible use of ppt. for modeling.
Activity 2: Measure force of myosin and actin interaction (as a model).
................See movies ( 1 myosin head or 2 myosin heads ) Pay attention to the scale measure. You might have to download and then open to see the full screen for the scale.
................Vernier force probes or a spring scale (fishing scale) will work will for this activity.
Activity 3 : Building a diorama of some aspect of skeletal muscle.
Here is an example of "titin" attached to the myosin ends and to the Z-Disks. Also, "actin" is shown for relationship to the "myosin". Variations in the theme can readily be made such as adding myosin heads.
Side view:
Top view:
Download and play - mechanism of myosin
EMG reference: PDF