Animal Physiology Kit

Teach Animal Physiology with Lt

Using Lt, zoology and physiology students can investigate basic and applied concepts in neuro and muscle physiology. Courses are designed with common undergraduate insect, annelid, amphibian and mammalian preparations.

Lessons

The Animal Physiology Kit doesn't include all the equipment that is required to teach the full range of labs below. Please visit the lab builder for a full equipment list.

Animal Metabolism +

Students are introduced to indirect calorimetry using a Gas Analyzer and PowerLab to record metabolic variables. These are then used to determine the metabolic rate and the respiratory exchange ratio (RER), which is a good estimate of the respiratory quotient (RQ).

Cockroach Sensory Nerve +

Students record compound action potentials (CAPs) from a cockroach leg nerve in response to various physical stimuli. Students examine CAP amplitudes and frequency, and identify different “classes” of CAP that represent different individual axons.

Cockroach Ventral Nerve +

Students record extracellular action potentials from the ventral nerve cord of a large cockroach, or similar insect. Spontaneous activity, and different types of stimuli, (including tapping the bench, clapping, air puffs, and touching), are compared and analyzed using frequency histograms. Students will also determine the nerve conduction velocity of the ventral nerve.

Earthworm Action Potentials +

Obtain extracellular recordings of action potentials from an anesthetized earthworm to examine the threshold potential, the all-or-none response, the refractory period, and the conduction velocity of the nerve.

Earthworm Smooth Muscle +

Students investigate the responses of smooth muscle to neurotransmitters, temperature, and ions. The earthworm (Lumbricus terrestris) gut provides a robust smooth muscle preparation that can be mounted in an organ bath and attached to a force transducer. This arrangement will enable students to measure contraction rate and force.

Frog Heart +

Explore the basic principles of cardiac muscle physiology, including contraction force, electrocardiogram (ECG) and the effect of neurotransmitters on the heart. Students also apply the Frank-Starling law of the heart to explain the relationship between stretch of cardiac muscle and the force of contraction.

Frog Nerve +

Students measure compound action potentials (CAPs) from an isolated frog sciatic nerve to explore the basic physiological properties of nerve impulses, including the threshold, refractory period, and conduction velocity.

Frog Neuromuscular Junction +

Students investigate the relationship between skeletal muscle and motor nerve supply. Using an isolated frog gastrocnemius and sciatic nerve students will explore twitch recruitment, muscle fatigue, and the effects of tubocurarine.

Frog Skeletal Muscle +

Students will learn about these properties of skeletal muscle: twitch recruitment, effects of muscle stretch, summation, tetanus, and fatigue. The experiment is carried out using an isolated frog gastrocnemius muscle.

Getting Started with Lt +

In this module students learn how to record and analyze data in Lt. A "Pre-Lab" lesson shows students what to expect in Lt labs and lets them explore the types of signals they might record. They also practice their data analysis skills prior to the lab, where they record and analyze their own pulse.

Intracellular Action Potentials +

Students make intracellular recordings from neurons in a leech ganglion. They will become familiar with an intracellular amplifier, and with the use for glass microelectrodes. Students will record and analyze both resting potentials and action potentials, of different neuronal cell types.

Please note, additional electrodes and electrode holders may be needed for this experiment.

Course access via the web - in class,
in the lab and at home

Step by step student lab protocols

Basic concepts & analysis focus

Curriculum based modules

Customize your Animal Physiology with Lt course, and find out what equipment you need.

Get started with the Lab Builder

Teach Animal Physiology with Lt LabStation

Using Lt LabStation, zoology and physiology students can investigate basic and applied concepts in neuro and muscle physiology. Courses are designed with common undergraduate insect, annelid, amphibian and mammalian preparations.

Lessons

The Animal Physiology Kit doesn't include all the equipment that is required to teach the full range of labs below. Please visit the lab builder for a full equipment list.

Animal Metabolism +

In this lab, learners are introduced to indirect calorimetry using a Gas Analyzer and PowerLab to record metabolic variables. These are then used to determine the metabolic rate and the respiratory exchange ratio (RER), which is a good estimate of the respiratory quotient (RQ).

Cockroach Sensory Nerve +

In this lab, learners record compound action potentials (CAPs) from a cockroach leg nerve in response to various physical stimuli. Learners examine CAP amplitudes and frequency, and identify different “classes” of CAP that represent different individual axons.

Cockroach Ventral Nerve Cord +

In this lab, learners record extracellular action potentials from the ventral nerve cord of a cockroach, or similar insect. Spontaneous activity, and different types of stimuli, (including tapping the bench, clapping, air puffs, and touching), are compared and analyzed using frequency histograms. Learners also determine the nerve conduction velocity of the ventral nerve.

Earthworm Action Potentials +

In this lab, learners obtain extracellular recordings of action potentials from an anesthetized earthworm (Lumbricus terrestris). They examine the threshold voltage required to evoke an action potential, first in the median fiber, and then in the lateral fibers. They also examine the “all-or-none’ response, the refractory period, and the conduction velocity of the median nerve.

Earthworm Smooth Muscle +

In this lab, learners investigate some of the responses of smooth muscle to neurotransmitters, temperature, and ions. The earthworm (Lumbricus terrestris species) gut provides a robust smooth muscle preparation that can be mounted in an organ bath and attached to a force transducer. This arrangement enables learners to measure contraction rate and force.

Frog Heart +

In this lab, learners measure some of the basic physiological properties of cardiac muscle from an in situ frog heart including contraction force, electrocardiogram (ECG). Learners also apply the Frank-Starling law of the heart to explain the relationship between stretch of cardiac muscle and the force of contraction.

Frog Nerve +

In this lab, learners measure compound action potentials (CAPs) from an isolated frog sciatic nerve to explore the basic physiological properties of nerve impulses including the threshold, refractory period, and conduction velocity.

Frog Neuromuscular Junction +

In this lab, learners explore the relationship between skeletal muscle and motor nerve supply. They use an isolated frog gastrocnemius with an intact sciatic nerve to explore twitch recruitment, muscle fatigue, and the effects of tubocurarine.

Frog Skeletal Muscle +

In this lab, learners explore the following properties of skeletal muscle: twitch recruitment, effects of muscle stretch, summation, tetanus, and fatigue. The experiment is carried out using an isolated frog gastrocnemius muscle.

Gin Trap Closure Reflex +

In this lab, learners will become familiar with administering tactile stimulation to Manduca sexta larvae and pupae. They record and analyze EMG data from a pupal preparation that they have set up themselves.

Intracellular Action Potentials +

In this lab, learners make intracellular recordings from neurons in a leech ganglion. They will become familiar with an intracellular amplifier, and with the use of glass microelectrodes. Learners will record and analyze both resting potentials and action potentials, of different neuronal cell types.

Course access in lab setting only

Step by step student
lab protocols

Basic concepts & analysis focus

Curriculum based modules

Customize your Animal Physiology with Lt LabStation course, and find out what equipment you need.

Get started with the Lab Builder

Teach Animal Physiology with LabChart

Protocols to investigate basic and applied concepts in neurophysiology, cardiac and muscle physiology using common insect, annelid, amphibian and mammalian preparations.

Lessons

The Animal Physiology Kit doesn't include all the equipment that is required to teach the full range of labs below. Please visit the lab builder for a full equipment list.

Animal Metabolism +

Use a Gas Analyzer and small chamber to measure an animal's metabolic rate using indirect calorimetry.

Arthropod ERG +

Learn about the fundamental properties of electroretinograms of various arthropods, such as field-caught insects and spiders. Record the visual responses of an arthropod to various pulse durations and wavelengths of light.

Artificial Axon Model +

Build an artificial neuron to demonstrate and explain passive nerve properties. Understand shapes of extracellular signals recorded by EMG or action potentials in frog sciatic nerve.

Cockroach Sensory Nerve +

Stimulate cockroach sensory nerve spines and record evoked action potentials. Compare spontaneous and evoked action potentials. Assess the influence of the angle of deflection on action potential size and frequency. Demonstrate adaptation of sensory neurons during prolonged stimulation.

Cockroach Ventral Nerve Cord +

Record extracellular action potentials from the ventral nerve cord of a large cockroach. Apply various different stimuli to the cerci and observe the electrical response. Measure the travel-time of an action potential and calculate nerve conduction velocity.

Crayfish Extracellular Nerve Recording +

Explore the basic principles of extracellular nerve recording. Dissect a crayfish tail to set up stretch receptor and motor nerve analysis.

Crayfish Postsynaptic Potential Recording +

Investigate neuromuscular interaction by simultaneously recording the extracellular activity from a muscle fiber and it's innervating nerve.

Earthworm Action Potentials +

Obtain extracellular recordings of action potentials from an anesthetized earthworm (Lumbricus spp). Complete five exercises to examine and demonstrate threshold potential, recruitment, all-or-none response, refractory period, bidrectionality of impulse and conduction velocity of the nerve.

Earthworm Smooth Muscle +

Observe the pattern of baseline movements in an organ bath preparation of isolated earthworm gut. Apply various manipulations and discover the effects of neurotransmitters, extracellular ions and temperature on contraction rate and strength.

Efish JAR +

Measure the response of a weakly electric fish, the Black Ghost Knifefish, to a frequency which simulates the introduction of a second fish.

Frog Heart +

Dissect a double-pithed frog and set up ECG analysis of frog heart. Manipulate temperature, tension, and pharmacological parameters to observe their effect on the ECG. Learn about Starling's law of the heart, refractory period and vagal escape.

Frog Nerve and Muscle +

Construct and calibrate a nerve bath setup in order to measure compound action potentials from an isolated frog sciatic nerve. Explore basic nerve physiological properties such as threshold, refractory period and conduction velocity.

Frog Nerve Compound Action Potentials +

Mount a dissected frog gastrocnemius muscle and sciatic nerve to investigate the physiological relationship between the two. Research the principles of twitch recruitment, muscle fatigue and the neuromuscular junction using the muscle relaxant, tubocurarine.

Frog Skeletal Muscle +

Investigate the physiological properties of skeletal muscle using the isolated amphibian gastrocnemius. Examine the properties of the single twitch, graded response and relationship between muscle length and tension as well as tetanus and muscle fatigue.

Intracellular Recordings +

Explore the basic principles of intracellular recording from several excitable cell types including a muscle fiber, neuron and alga cell.

Introduction to LabChart +

Learn the basics of the PowerLab Data Acquisition System and LabChart software.

Rat Cardiovascular Physiology Analysis +

Playback and analyze pre-recorded data from experiments involving cardiovascular manipulation of rats. Gain an understanding of the neural control of cardiovascular function.