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About This Simulation
Investigate the properties of two types of skeletal muscle and analyze their fiber composition. Use histochemistry and force transduction to compare muscles and learn why you can stay energized on long walks but get tired from a short sprint.
Learning Objectives
- Explain the length-tension relationship in skeletal muscle
- Understand how twitch and tetanus, the force-frequency relationship, and the response to fatigue differ for different types of muscle
- Measure the physiological properties of isolated EDL and soleus muscles
- Learn about enzyme histochemistry techniques and understand the steps involved
- Quantify the proportion of different fiber types found in both muscle types
About This Simulation
Lab Techniques
- Force transduction
- - Twitch kinetics
- - Tetanus kinetics
- - Length tension
- - Staining/Microscopy
- - Fatigue
- - Force frequency
- Histochemistry
- - Slide preparation
Related Standards
- Potentially HS-LS1-2, however likely too high level
- No direct alignment
- 11.2 Movement
Learn More About This Simulation
Have you ever wondered what the difference between walking and running is? In this simulation you will learn the key differences between muscles used during walking and those used for sprinting. Spotting these differences will require the use of a variety of lab techniques.
Stain two muscles using histochemistry
With a cryostat you will cut two muscles in thin slices, and use different protocols to stain the muscle cells and identify myosin ATPase, succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), and aGDPH. You will dye the cells of the extensor digitorum longus (EDL), as well as those of the soleus to inspect the fibre composition under a light microscope. You will then complete a full protocol. First, you will dissect a rat to extract two types of skeletal muscle. Then, you will use the microtome in a cryostat to prepare microscope slides with the muscles to compare them and inspect the differently stained muscle fibres.
Use the force… transducer!
In the second half of the simulation you will investigate the properties of the two types of skeletal muscle to see how they differ and where they are similar. Use force transducers to investigate how the tension of the two muscles differs with length, and what kind of force they produce at different lengths and with different stimuli. Dive in to skeletal muscle exercises such as twitch kinetics, tetanus kinetics, force frequency and fatigue!
Compare the muscles
Use histochemistry and force transduction to get data to compare two types of skeletal muscles from dissected virtual rats. Will you be able to compare the two skeletal muscles and explain why you can be super fit for long walks but get tired from a short sprint?
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For Science Programs Providing a Learning Advantage
North Dakota State College of Science
“They did the simulation at home, then completed the in-person lab within 30 minutes, no questions asked, and passed the quiz with flying colors.”
Lecturer in Human Physiology
University of Westminster
"I saw some of the students who clearly didn’t necessarily like sitting there reading a book discover they could turn on Labster and keep up with the rest of the class because it spoke to them.
Modesto City Schools
"Having something that's engaging for the students gives teachers that opportunity to breathe and get excited again. Because they're seeing the kids light up, they're seeing the kids engage with content."
Wenatchee Valley College
"The question always is, ‘Can we demonstrate that the students are meeting course outcomes?’ Check! We can do that.”
San José State University
"We surveyed over 400 students. More than 90% thought Labster was easy to navigate, and that it was fun, but more importantly, most of them felt confident that they could execute the labs in person. And that confidence is a big deal."
FAQs
Find answers to frequently asked questions.
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Labster can be integrated within a school's LMS (Learning Management System), and students can access it like any other assignment in their LMS. If your Institution does not choose an LMS integration, students will log in to Labster's Course Manager once they have an account created. Your institution will decide the access method during the sales process.
Labster is only available for purchase by faculty and administration at academic institutions. To procure Labster, simply reach out to us on our website. Schedule a demo, book a meeting to discuss pricing, start a free trial, or simply fill out our contact form.
Labster simulations are created by real scientists and designed with unparalleled interactivity. Unlike point and click competitors, Labster simulations immerse students and encourage mastery through active learning.
Labster supports a wide range of courses at the high school and university level across fields in biology, chemistry and physics. Some simulations mimic lab procedures with high fidelity to train foundational skills, while others are meant to bring theory to life through interactive scenarios.