okay so we did a lab on muscle physiology. acquired one small 2 cm length of psoas muscle . teased the bundle of muscle fibers into individual muscle fibers. aligned 3 individual fibers on each of three different microscope slides and placed 1 fiber on a fourth slide ( control)
measured the lenghts of each fiber.
then were given 3 solutions
A. .25% & ATP solution in distilled water
B. .25% ATP in water +.05 M KCI + .001 M MgCl2 in distilled water
C. .05 M KCI +.001 M MgCl2 in distilled water.
solution B gave the most difference in contraction length, then came C, A hardly. Why is this ?
In this lab experiment, you evaluated the effects of different solutions on the contraction lengths of individual muscle fibers. Three solutions, A, B, and C, were provided, and you observed that solution B resulted in the most significant difference in contraction length, followed by solution C, while solution A showed minimal effect. Now, let's analyze the possible reasons for these observations.
To understand the outcome, it is important to consider the composition of each solution and how it affects muscle physiology. Let's look at the components of each solution:
Solution A: 0.25% ATP in distilled water.
Solution B: 0.25% ATP in water + 0.05 M KCI + 0.001 M MgCl2 in distilled water.
Solution C: 0.05 M KCI + 0.001 M MgCl2 in distilled water.
ATP (adenosine triphosphate) is crucial for muscle contraction as it provides energy. In solution A, only ATP is present, and it is dissolved in distilled water. Distilled water does not contain any additional ions or electrolytes. Therefore, solution A lacks the necessary ions to support optimal muscle contraction.
In contrast, solution B contains not only ATP but also potassium chloride (KCI) and magnesium chloride (MgCl2). KCI is an important ion in muscle contraction, helping to generate action potentials and maintain the resting membrane potential. MgCl2, on the other hand, is required for the activation of ATP as a cofactor. The presence of KCI and MgCl2 in solution B provides the required ions and cofactors to enhance muscle contraction, resulting in a more significant difference in the contraction lengths compared to solution A.
Solution C, which contains only KCI and MgCl2, also results in a noticeable difference in contraction length. Although it lacks ATP, KCI, and MgCl2 still contribute to the generation of action potentials and modulation of muscle physiology. Therefore, even without ATP, solution C provides some level of stimulation for muscle contraction.
It is important to note that these observations are specific to the experiment conducted, and further experiments would be needed to confirm the exact mechanisms underlying the different effects of the solutions. Nevertheless, based on the provided information, the presence of KCI and MgCl2 in solutions B and C likely contributes to the observed differences in muscle contraction length compared to solution A.