Muscle Tissue Lab

Objective:
To compare three kinds of muscle tissue

Materials:
Raw hamburger meat slide toothpick
Methylene blue cover slip prepared smooth muscle
Medicine dropper microscope prepared cardiac muscle
Prepared skeletal muscle
Procedure and Observations
Your body and the bodies of other mammals contain three kinds of muscle tissue. One
type of muscle tissue is found in the arms, legs and back. This type is used to do work. A
second type of muscle tissue makes up the digestive system and those organs that are not
under voluntary control. A third type of muscle tissue makes up the heart. The cells of
muscle tissues have some differences and some similar characteristics.

A. Hamburger meat is made from the muscle tissue of a cow. Use a toothpick to put
a small dot of hamburger meat in the center of a clean slide. Spread out the meat
so thin that it is almost transparent. Add a drop of methylene blue. Cover with a
cover slip. Examine the slide under low power. Look for an area of muscle tissue.
Switch into high power to study this tissue.

1. Describe the appearance of the muscle tissue.

2. Where are the nuclei located?
3. Are the boundaries between the cells visible?
The type of muscle you are looking at is called skeletal muscle because it is found
attached to the bones of the skeleton.
4. What is the function of this type of muscle?
5. Draw the skeletal muscle as it appears under high power.

B. Now examine the prepared slide of skeletal muscle.

1. How does this compare to the muscle tissue of the cow you observed in the
hamburger meat?
2. Can you identify the same structures?
3. Are there any visible differences?

C. Examine the prepared slide of smooth muscle cells. This type of muscle is found
in the diaphragm, the digestive system, and other areas we do not consciously
control. Focus the slide under low power. Then switch into high power.

1. What shape are the nuclei in theses cells?

2. Where are the nuclei located?
3. Does this muscle look like the skeletal muscle? Explain.
4. What is the function of this type of muscle?
5. Draw the smooth muscle as it appears in the slide.

D. Examine the prepared slide of cardiac (heart) muscle. Focus the slide with low
power, then switch to high power.

1. What are the shape of the nuclei in these cells?

2. Where are the nuclei located?
4. Does this muscle look like skeletal muscle. Explain.
5. Draw the cardiac muscle as it appears in the slide.

Post Lab Questions:

1. How does the structure of each of the tissue type you observed relate to their
functions?
2. What are the similarities between the three muscle tissue types?
3. What are the differences between the three muscle tissue types?

Don’t forget to write a conclusion!