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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:

Movie to watch: Muscle man EMG music

Download and play - mechanism of myosin

EMG reference: PDF

Participants designing this content are :

MICHAEL P. SCHULTZ, Dept. of Biol., & Center for Muscle Biology, Univ. of KY.

REBECCA KRALL, Dept. of STEM, Univ. of KY

ESTHER E. DUPONT-VERSTEEGDEN, Div. Physical Therapy, Dept. Rehabilitation Sciences, Col. Health Sciences, & Center for Muscle Biology, Univ. of KY.

SUSAN MAYO, P-12 Math and Science Outreach Unit of PIMSER, Univ. of KY.

DIANE JOHNSON, P-12 Math and Science Outreach Unit of PIMSER, Univ. of KY.

KIM ZEIDLER-WATTERS, P-12 Math and Science Outreach Unit of PIMSER, Univ. of KY.

ROBIN L. COOPER, Dept. of Biol., & Center for Muscle Biology, Univ. of KY.

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