Lab 3: Stimulus strength vs. muscle force production
Introduction:
The goal of this lab is to determine the relationship between stimulus amplitude (strength) and the contractile properties (i.e. force) of the frog gastrocnemius muscle. Skeletal muscle is composed of bundles of muscle fibers called myofibers. These fibers are themselves composed of myofibrils, which are comprised of the ordered arrangement of actin and myosin. These proteins slide past each other in the presence of calcium ions (Ca2+) and ATP resulting in muscle contraction and relaxation (See Figure).
The skeletal muscle motor unit consists of a motor neuron and the muscle fibers innervated by the neurons axon terminals. When an action potential reaches the end of the motor
Introduction:
The goal of this lab is to determine the relationship between stimulus amplitude (strength) and the contractile properties (i.e. force) of the frog gastrocnemius muscle. Skeletal muscle is composed of bundles of muscle fibers called myofibers. These fibers are themselves composed of myofibrils, which are comprised of the ordered arrangement of actin and myosin. These proteins slide past each other in the presence of calcium ions (Ca2+) and ATP resulting in muscle contraction and relaxation (See Figure).
The skeletal muscle motor unit consists of a motor neuron and the muscle fibers innervated by the neurons axon terminals. When an action potential reaches the end of the motor