Health  Science  -­‐  Activities  in  a  Pinch     Abbott  &  Rauzi  

Spaghetti  Muscle  Core  Standard(s)   Classroom  Application  

Anatomy  Physiology  

 

Diagrams  Demos  

 

 Purpose:  

The  student  will  understand  the  anatomy  of  a  skeletal  muscle  by  creating  it  at  the  microscopic  level.      

Materials  Needed:  • Spaghetti  noodles  • Straws  (1  per  student)  • Plastic  wrap  roll  • Colored  paper  (3  colors,  13  sheets)  

o 8  -­‐  of  one  color  o 4  -­‐  of  another  color  o 1  -­‐  of  another  color  

• Markers    Guidelines:  

See  “Spaghetti  Muscle  Instructions  and  Explanations”  on  the  next  page.    Additional  Information:  

• Use  both  Spaghetti  and  Linguini  noodles  to  distinguish  between  actin  and  myosin.  • Russian  nesting  dolls  (Matryoshka)  maybe  another  visual  aid  used  to  represent  this  concept.  • If  you  have  access  to  a  wood  shop  inquire  the  possibility  of  having  the  finished  muscle  cut  in  

half   on   an   angle   to   show   student   the   representation   of   the   various   layers   of   a   skeletal  muscle.  (See  attached  picture)  

     

   

Health  Science  -­‐  Activities  in  a  Pinch     Abbott  &  Rauzi  

Spaghetti  Muscle  Instructions  and  Explanations    

1. Each  student  will  be  given  about  5-­‐spaghetti  noodles,  a  straw  and  a  square  sized  piece  of  plastic  wrap.   The   student  will   fill   their   straw  with   the   spaghetti,   then   roll   the   straw   in   the   plastic  wrap  leaving  the  overlapping  ends  hanging  out.    

The   noodles   represent   the   Filaments   within   a   Myofibril   (Thin   Filament   =   Actin   and   Thick  Filament  =  Myosin).    The  straw  represents  the  Sarcoplasmic  Reticulum  covering  the  Filaments.  The   plastic   wrap   represents   Sarcolemma,   which   is   the   covering   that   helped   to   create   a  Myofibril.    

 2. Now  in  eight  different  groups  give  a  colored  paper  to  each  group.  Using  the  markers,  add  striations  

and  circles  across  the  length  of  the  paper.  Combine  the  Myofibrils  and  roll  them  into  the  colored  paper,  with  the  drawings  on  the  outside,  then  secure  it  together  with  another  piece  of  plastic  wrap.  

 Each  group  has  now  created  a  representation  of  a  Muscle  Fiber  or  Cell.  The  striations  and  circles  on  the  paper  represent  the  sarcomeres  and  nucleus  of  the  cell  and  the  plastic  wrap  makes  up  the  Endomysium  that  surrounds  the  cell.  

 3. Next,  combine  two  Muscle  Fiber  or  Cell  groups  to  create  four  new  groups.    With  a  different  color  of  

paper  surround  the  two  Muscle  Fibers  and  secure  it  together  with  another  piece  of  plastic  wrap.    

With   the   colored   paper   and  plastic  wrap   representing   the  Perimysium,   each   group   has   now  created  a  Fasicle.  

 4. Combine  the  four  Fasicle  groups  to  make  one  bundle.  Again,  with  a  final  color  of  paper  surround  

the  four  Fasicles  and  secure  it  together  with  another  piece  of  plastic  wrap.    

With   the   colored   paper   and   plastic   wrap   representing   the   Epimysium,   each   group   has   now  created  a  Muscle...  almost!    

5. Finally,  cover  with  a  larger  piece  of  plastic  wrap  that  hangs  over  and  twist  the  ends.    

This   final  covering  of  plastic  wrap  depicts   the  Fascia  and  the  overlapping  twisted  ends   create  the  appearance  of  the  tendon  that  attaches  the  muscle  to  bone.        

Health  Science  -­‐  Activities  in  a  Pinch     Abbott  &  Rauzi  

                                                                     

Health  Science  -­‐  Activities  in  a  Pinch     Abbott  &  Rauzi