*******Work in Progress********* -------------------------------------------------- This project is for the CCOW weeks 4-6. There is still information missing in the project that may make the concepts difficult to understand. Just click through the project to learn a bit about muscle physiology. My thoughts with the synapse activity animation: I thought it would be engaging for students if they had the opportunity to create their own synapse animation, whether provided with the Scratch assets already or if they built their own projects from the ground up. Perhaps this approach would make the topic less abstract and more pertinent
All graphics created by myself, except for this neuron image: http://springvisualculture1b.blogspot.com/2010/04/neuron-psychologist.html Some background for the "Synapse Activity:" __________________________________________ The seven steps of a muscle fiber contraction: 1. Electrical signal is sent from spinal cord to muscle via motor neuron. 2. Calcium channels open and calcium enters the axon terminal. 3. This causes the release of acetyl choline (Ach) 4. Ach binds to Ach receptors 5. The Ach recepters open their gates 6. Sodium (Na+) flows in, potassium (K+) flows out. More K+ leaves than Na+ enters, causing the muscle fiber to be negatively charged. 7. An action potential flows across the muscle fiber, causing contraction.
