Learning Objectives:

The student should be able to:

1. Describe the gross anatomy of a skeletal muscle and its connective tissue
coverings.
2. Describe the microscopic anatomy of skeletal muscle.
3. Explain the connection between motor neurons and skeletal muscle and discuss
the structure and function of the neuromuscular junction.
4. Describe how Biopac software can be used to record skeletal muscle activity.
5. Define motor unit, and relate recruitment of motor units and temporal
summation to production of a graded contraction.
6. Identify the muscles of the head, neck, thorax and abdomen listed on the
Supplement. Please note the key terms for this objective will be contained in
the Lab Supplement and will not be listed with the rest of the key terms shown
below.

Key Terms:

muscle fiber, striated, fascicle, epimysium, perimysium, endomysium, insertion,

origin, tendon, aponeurosis, sarcomere, functional unit, myofilament, thick filament,
thin filament, sarcolemma, myofibril, A band, H zone, M line, I band, Z disc (Z line),
actin, myosin, myosin heads, cross bridges, tropomyosin, troponin, sarcoplasmic
reticulum (SR), terminal cisterns, transverse (T) tubule, triads

neuromuscular junction (NMJ), axon, terminal branches, synaptic vesicles,

acetylcholine (ACh), junctional folds, synaptic cleft, ACh receptors,
acetylcholinesterase

electromyography (EMG), electromyogram, measurement box, I-beam tool, zoom

tool, motor unit, graded muscle contractions, temporal (wave) summation, tonus

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 PRE-LAB ASSIGNMENT
1. Use your textbook and Lab Manual to identify the numbered items in the
following diagrams.

1. _________________________ 8. _________________________

2. _________________________ 9. _________________________

3. _________________________ 10. _________________________

4. _________________________ 11. _________________________

5. _________________________ 12. _________________________

6. _________________________ 13. _________________________

7. _________________________

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1. _________________________

2. _________________________

3. _________________________

4. _________________________

5. _________________________

6. _________________________

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 A. Structure of Skeletal Muscle: Skeletal Muscle Cell Model

There are three parts to this model, A, B, and C from top to bottom when the
model is oriented so that the Turtox label is right side up. Identify the following
features on the model with the help of your pre-lab assignment diagrams.

A. Portion of a muscle cell showing several myofibrils and their associated

sarcoplasmic reticulum
sarcolemma (gray layer on outside)
sarcoplasmic reticulum (orange)
myofibrils (orange lines running longitudinally)
transverse/T tubules (gray extensions of the sarcolemma located at the
region known as the Z line or Z disc)
I band (pale region, contains thin myofilaments only)
A band (darker region, including the zone of overlap of thick and thin
myofilaments)
Z line/disc (these form the boundaries of a sarcomere)
H zone (region in the centre of the A band where there is no overlap of
thick and thin filaments)
M line (bisects the H zone)

B. Schematic of a relaxed sarcomere (more highly magnified than A)

thick myofilament (composed of myosin)
cross bridges
thin myofilament (composed of actin)
H zone
A band
I band
Z line/disc (gray)

C. Schematic of a contracted sarcomere (magnification similar to B)

thick myofilament (composed of myosin)
thin myofilament (composed of actin)
Z line (at each end)
H zone
A band
I band ( I band adjacent to each Z line)

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Muscular System Tissues for Study in the Lab

Plate # in
Microscope Slide A Brief Atlas
Name of Tissue
of the Human
Body
Skeletal muscle #18 : demo slide 28
Neuromuscular junction Demo slide 30

Note: With your study of the structure of skeletal muscle this week, examine
Plates # 28, 29 and 30 on p. 12 of A Brief Atlas of the Human Body. Use the
following space for your drawings and notes for the above slides.

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 B. Electromyography

This lab exercise is an introduction to skin-surface recording of voltage changes

that occur with skeletal muscle activity, a procedure known as electromyography
(EMG). The visible recording is called an electromyogram.
Before doing this exercise, review the structure of skeletal muscle, neuromuscular
junctions, and motor units. Understanding whole muscle contraction requires that
you first understand that a single muscle consists of many motor units, and that
the gradual and coordinated activation of these motor units results in graded
contraction of the whole muscle. The nervous system controls muscle contraction
by two mechanisms:
1. motor unit recruitment - gradual increase in the number of motor units utilized
2.temporal (wave) summation - increase in the frequency of nerve impulses for
each active motor unit
A skeletal muscle can produce graded contractions by increasing the number of
motor units being activated, and increasing the frequency of nerve impulses
delivered to those active motor units.
Another phenomenon, which can be observed in an electromyogram, is tonus - a
constant state of slight contraction in a skeletal muscle while it is in the relaxed
state. A small number of motor units (and not always the same ones!) are always
slightly active to maintain the muscle in a state of readiness for possible
contraction.

A. Set-up Procedure:

Begin with step 3 or step 4 below, if the equipment has been set up or turned on
for you in advance.
1. Turn the MP30 unit ON.

2. Turn the computer ON.

3. If necessary, plug in the equipment as follows:

Electrode lead (SS2L) CH 3

Headphones (OUT1) back of unit

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4. Prepare to record from the flexor muscles of the hand and digits on the
anterior surface of the subject's dominant forearm. You may establish the
location of the muscles by having the subject contract them, and by referring to
the muscle models in the lab.

Attach the electrodes and pads as follows:

red lead (+) and white lead (-): about 15 - 20 cm apart, on top of the flexors,
with the white lead in the more proximal position.

black lead (ground): on the medial forearm, 3 - 4 cm proximal to the wrist

5. Select lesson "L01-EMG-1" from the menu and click OK.

6. Use subjects name followed by EMG to create the filename. Click on OK.

B. Calibration

1. The computer will automatically establish parameters to record the data

properly for the subject. With the subject in a still position, click on calibrate.

2. Follow the on-screen instructions. The recording will automatically stop when the
calibration is complete.

3. Observe the recording. The baseline should be relatively flat, and there should
be one obvious cluster of peaks. If necessary, click Redo Calibration and repeat
the steps above.

C. Recording the Data

1. Before clicking Record, carefully read the on-screen instructions (instructions

for the clenching and relaxing activities of the subject). When the subject is ready
to do this, click Record. Then click Suspend when the subject is finished.

2. Observe the recording of the data. It should appear similar to the following
figure:

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 Fig. 1: Sample recording from the Electromyography 1 lab, showing two
complete sets of clusters.
(Figure retrieved from http://biopac.com/bsl_frlessons.htm)

If your data looks very different, click Redo and repeat the steps above. If the
data looks similar, click STOP.

Option: - You may listen to the recording of contraction by using the headphones
and clicking Listen while having the subject clench and relax. Note that the
frequency of the auditory signal corresponds with the frequency of action
potentials stimulating the muscle.

3. If you are finished recording for your group, click Done, remove all electrodes
from the forearm, and proceed to Data Analysis.

D. Data Analysis

1. Enter Review Saved Data mode and choose the file with the subject's EMG
data.
2. Observe the Raw EMG recording and computer-calculated Integrated EMG. The
raw EMG is the actual recording of the voltage (in mV) at each instant in time,

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while the Integrated EMG is reflective of the absolute intensity of the voltage
from baseline at each instant in time.

3. To analyze the data, set up the first 4 pairs of channel/measurement boxes at

the top of the screen as follows. (Each box activates a pull down menu when you
click on it.)
Channel Measurement
CH 3 min
CH 3 max
CH 3 p-p
CH 40 mean

4. Use the arrow cursor and click on the I-Beam cursor box on the lower right side
of the screen to activate the "area selection" function. Using the activated I-
Beam cursor, highlight the first EMG cluster, representing the first fist clenching.

5. The computer automatically calculates the min, max, p-p, and mean for the
selected area. These measurements, calculated from the data by the computer,
represent the following:
min: the minimum peak height in the selected area.
max: the maximum peak height in the selected area.
p-p: (peak-to-peak) the difference in value between the highest and lowest peaks
in the selected area
mean: the average peak height in the selected area.

6. Record the data for clench #1 in the table below (round to the nearest 1/100
mV).

7. Using the I-Beam cursor, highlight the clusters for clenches 2, 3, and 4 and
record the data in the table in the Electromyography Lab Data Report.

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 Electromyography Data Report

Record the measurements from the Data Analysis in this table.

Round the numbers to 2 decimal places.

Cluster # Min Max P-P Mean

[Ch3min] [Ch3 max] [Ch3p-p] [40mean]
1
2
3
4

1. From the data in the Table above, what trend do you observe for each of these
measurements as the subject gradually increases the force of muscle
contraction?

2. Calculate the percentage increase in EMG activity recorded between the

weakest grip (cluster 1) and the strongest grip (cluster 4) as follows:

mean of strongest grip mean of weakest grip X 100 = % increase

mean of weakest grip
Answer: _____ %

3. What is the relationship between maximum voltage for each clench and the
number of motor units in the forearm that are being activated?

4. Describe what is meant by the term "motor unit recruitment."

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 C. Study of Selected Skeletal Muscles: Part 1

Introduction
There are over 600 muscles in the human body. This exercise provides summary
information on the origins, insertions, and actions of the skeletal muscles that you
are required to learn in this lab.

You need to learn the names, locations and actions of all of the muscles listed,
and the specific origins and insertions for those muscles that have an asterisk
(*) following the name. The origin and insertion for each muscle are included in
these notes, however, because it is necessary for you to work with the origins
and insertions in order to understand and learn the muscle actions.

Terms to remember when learning actions of muscles:

1. Skeletal muscles are attached to bones via tendons.
2. The origin of a muscle is the stationary point of attachment.
3. The insertion of a muscle is the movable point of attachment.
4. When a muscle contracts, it shortens so that the insertion moves toward the
origin. The movement is defined as the action of the muscle.

Describing Muscle Actions:

There is more than one correct way to describe an action at a synovial joint. For
example, when the femur is moved anteriorly, this movement can be scientifically
described in any the following ways:

a) flexion of the femur

b) flexion of the thigh
c) flexion of the coxal joint
d) flexion of the hip joint

In the Lab Supplement, we will try as often as possible to maintain consistency by

using the format that appears in (a) above. Therefore, one can say that a certain
muscle flexes the femur.
Examples of using this format for other joint movements would include flexion of
the tibia, extension of the humerus, etc. However, it is definitely correct for
you to use any of the other formats listed above; therefore, using the same
movements described in the preceding sentence, one can say flexion of the leg,
extension at the shoulder joint, etc.

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Recommended Procedure for Studying Skeletal Muscles:
Locate and highlight the names of the muscles in the diagrams in your textbook
before you come to the lab.
In the lab, locate each muscle on the models, and practice saying the name out
loud several times. Try to find clues in the name of each muscle that will help
you understand and remember the name.
Identify the sites of origin and insertion of each and every muscle using the
articulated skeletons in the lab. (Insertions are outlined in blue, origins are
outlined in red.) Relate the location, origin and insertion of the muscle to your
own body. You are expected to know the complete description for the origin and
insertion of muscles marked with an asterisk.
Visualize the insertion of each muscle being moved toward the origin as the
muscle contracts, and state the complete action(s) of the muscle. Perform the
actions on your own body. Please note that you are expected to know the names
and the complete actions of all muscles listed below.
Make individual index cards for each muscle or you can purchase them from the
bookstore.
Visit the A&PFlix for muscles in MasteringA&P website; great animation for
selected muscles can be found at this location. Take advantage of this resource
to help you further with your muscle study.

Part 1: Muscles of the Head, Neck, Thorax, and Abdomen

The letter and number codes following the muscle names are to guide you in
locating the muscles on the models in the lab, as follows:
H refers to numbers on the Human Model (Muscle Man).
H&N refers to numbers on the Head and Neck Model.
T refers to numbers on the Torso Model.

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 MUSCLES OF FACIAL EXPRESSION

- found in superficial fascia

- originate on the skull and insert into the deeper layers of the skin

epicranius: 2 parts:

a) frontal belly H&N 5, H13, T1

O. epicranial aponeurosis
I. skin of eyebrow
A. raises eyebrows ( with aponeurosis fixed), wrinkles forehead skin
horizontally
b) occipital belly H&N4, H18, T25
O. occipital bone and temporal bones
I. epicranial aponeurosis
A. fixes aponeurosis and pulls scalp posteriorly

orbicularis oculi H&N6 and 7, H19, T2

O. frontal and maxillary bones and ligaments of orbit
I. tissue of the eyelid
A. closes eye (blink, wink, squint), draws eyebrows inferiorly

zygomaticus major H&N10, H22, T8

O. zygomatic bone
I. skin and muscle at corner of mouth
A. raises lateral corners of mouth ("smile")

orbicularis oris H&N15, H23, T9

O. maxilla and mandible
I. encircles mouth; skin and muscle at the angles of the mouth
A. closes lips, protrudes lips ("kissing and whistling muscle")

buccinator ("trumpeter" muscle) H&N11, H26, T14

O. lateral aspects of maxilla and mandible
I. orbicularis oris
A. compresses cheek ("blowing and sucking"), holds food between the
teeth

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 MUSCLES OF MASTICATION (CHEWING)

temporalis H&N1, H14

O. temporal bones
I. coronoid process of mandible
A. elevates mandible (closes jaw), retracts mandible, maintains position of
mandible at rest

masseter * (chewer muscle) H&N13, H27, T15

O. zygomatic arch and zygomatic bone
I. angle and ramus of mandible (lateral surface)
A. elevates mandible (prime mover of jaw closure)

MUSCLES OF THE NECK AND VERTEBRAL COLUMN

You are required to locate and learn only one representative muscle in this group:

sternocleidomastoid * (the major head flexors) H&N19, H28, T222 and 223
O. manubrium of the sternum and clavicle
I. mastoid process of temporal bone and occipital bone
A. each alone laterally rotates the face towards shoulder of the opposite
side, both together flex the cervical spine or head

MUSCLES USED IN BREATHING

external intercostals T255, H - no number, but do find them on the model

(11 pairs between the ribs)
O. inferior border of the rib above
I. superior border of the rib below
A. elevates ribs for inspiration

internal intercostals H53, T256

(11 pairs between the ribs)
O. superior border of the rib below
I. inferior border of the rib above
A. depresses ribs for forced expiration, not needed for passive expiration

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diaphragm H142, T314, T315, T252
a fibro-muscular partition between the thoracic and abdominal cavities
O. internal surfaces of sternum, costal cartilages of lower ribs, lumbar
vertebrae
I. central tendon
A. flattens the floor of the thoracic cavity, increasing the vertical dimension
of the thorax, and therefore causes inspiration of air, increases intra-
abdominal pressure with strong contraction

MUSCLES OF THE ABDOMINAL WALL

rectus abdominis* H56, T473

O. pubic crest and symphysis of hip (coxal) bone
I. costal cartilages of ribs 5-7, xiphoid process of sternum
A. flexes and rotates lumbar vertebral column (sit-ups), compresses
abdomen and increases intra-abdominal pressure (aids in:defecation,
urination, childbirth and forced expiration)

external oblique H55, T543

O. ribs 5-12
I. linea alba (= midline of the aponeurosis from xiphoid process to pubic
symphysis) and iliac crest of hip (coxal) bone
A. when pair contract simultaneously, flex lumbar vertebral column (sit-ups),
compress abdomen, aid in expulsive movements (as above); acting individually,
aids in rotation of trunk and lateral flexion of vertebral column

internal oblique H57, T569

O. iliac crest of hip (coxal) bone, inguinal ligament
I. costal cartilages of last 3 or 4 ribs, linea alba
A. when pair contract simultaneously, flex lumbar vertebral column (sit-ups),
compress abdomen, aid in expulsive movements (as above); acting individually,
aids in rotation of trunk and lateral flexion of vertebral column

transversus abdominis H143, T355

O. iliac crest of hip (coxal) bone, inguinal ligament, costal cartilages 7-12
I. linea alba, pubic crest of the hip (coxal) bone
A. compresses abdomen, increases intra-abdominal pressure

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