In this lab we are to create a model of a moving limb with neuron triggering muscle to pull bone and make a joint move. The supplies I used are playdough, styrophome ball and tube, and fuzzy wire sticks.

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Materials in picture one







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picture two shows you the limb and has labeled the parts.









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In this picure you can see the muscles that are attached to the bone. The femur is covered with the quadricep muscles and hamstring muscles. The quadricep is the muscle that straigtens the leg at knee and raises the thigh. The hamstring is at the back of the femur and allows the knee to bend at the thigh. Also there is the sartorius which raises and laterally rotates the thigh allowing movement such as kicking a soccer ball. As you can see the knee is a synovial joint so it is freely movable. I wasn't able to show in my diagram how complex the knee really is but I did visit a really good website that went into a lot of detail on the knee.

What Are the Major Structures of the Knee? What Do They Do?
The knee joint works like a hinge to bend and straighten the lower leg. It permits a person to sit, stand, and pivot. The knee is composed of the following parts.

Structures of the Knee
Bones and Cartilage
The knee joint is the junction of three bones -- the femur (thigh bone or upper leg bone), the tibia (shin bone or larger bone of the lower leg), and the patella (kneecap). The patella is about 2 to 3 inches wide and 3 to 4 inches long. It sits over the other bones at the front of the knee joint and slides when the leg moves. It protects the knee and gives leverage to muscles.
The ends of the three bones in the knee joint are covered with articular cartilage, a tough, elastic material that helps absorb shock and allows the knee joint to move smoothly. Separating the bones of the knee are pads of connective tissue called menisci, which are divided into two crescent-shaped discs positioned between the tibia and femur on the outer and inner sides of each knee. The two menisci in each knee act as shock absorbers, cushioning the lower part of the leg from the weight of the rest of the body, as well as enhancing stability.
Muscles
There are two groups of muscles at the knee. The quadriceps muscle comprises four muscles on the front of the thigh that work to straighten the leg from a bent position. The hamstring muscles, which bend the leg at the knee, run along the back of the thigh from the hip to just below the knee.
Ligaments
Ligaments are strong, elastic bands of tissue that connect bone to bone. They provide strength and stability to the joint. Four ligaments connect the femur and tibia:
The medial collateral ligament (MCL) provides stability to the inner (medial) aspect of the knee.
The lateral collateral ligament (LCL) provides stability to the outer (lateral) aspect of the knee.
The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), in the center of the knee, limits rotation and the forward movement of the tibia.
The posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), also in the center of the knee, limits backward movement of the tibia.
Other ligaments are part of the knee capsule, which is a protective, fiber-like structure that wraps around the knee joint. Inside the capsule, the joint is lined with a thin, soft tissue, called synovium.
Tendons
Tendons are tough cords of tissue that connect muscle to bone. In the knee, the quadriceps tendon connects the quadriceps muscle to the patella and provides power to extend the leg. The patellar tendon connects the patella to the tibia. Technically, it is a ligament, but it is commonly called a tendon.















http://www.md.com/
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This picure is of the sarcomers relaxed.






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This picture shows the sarcomers contracted.







This lab was a good way to put together everything we have learned in this unit. It really gave us the hands on approach and made us study how our bodies function and how we are able to move.