Major Lab Unit 3

I choose to do a model of the arm with the elbow joint illustrated.  The elbow is able to move because muscle fibers are stimulated which makes them contract by motor neurons.  The axons of the neurons are in the nerves.  When the nerve impulses reach an axon, ACh is released which binds to receptors in the sarcolemma.  The sarcolemma creates impulses that spread down T tubules to the sarcoplasmic reticulum.  This whole process creates movement, enabling a joint to move.

My daughter helped me with this assignment by helping to make the homemade playdough that was used. 

                                                   Raziel adding the flour for the dough

                                                                stirring the dough

                                           kneading food color into the dough

muscle fiber model

calcium in a muscle contraction

model of elbow joint in the arm

closeup of the elbow joint

Here are what were used for the parts :

homemade playdough - bones, muscles, tendons

uncooked spaghetti noodles- myofibrils

Jujubes candy - nucleus

thread of different colors - T tubule, sarcoplasmic reticulum, tropomyosin

Skittles  and Jubues - actin filaments, troponin and Ca2+

packing tape - sarcolemma