1. Show Figure 44.1 and discuss how a musculoskeletal system involves many elements working closely together.

2. Show Figure 44.2 to illustrate the vertebrate endoskeleton.

3. Show Figure 44.2 to illustrate an exoskeleton.

4. Discuss the hydrostatic skeleton and the fact that fluids are incompressible; use a filled water balloon to demonstrate how this works.

5. Discuss the physics of the human endoskeleton, including the concepts of work, leverage, and torque arms. Show the relationship between force and torque arm length with the following demonstration: Have a student tighten a nut down onto a bolt by using an average-sized wrench. Ask another student to loosen the nut using the smallest wrench you can find. Then, with the largest wrench you have, ask another student to loosen the bolt. The wrenches should all be crescent types, so that they will fit the nut, but with differently sized handles (the torque arm). The expected result is that the smallest wrench will fail, but the largest one will work with little effort.

1. Using Figure 44.3, illustrate the four major forms of connective tissues.

2. Project prepared slides of each type of tissue and discuss how the fiber types differ and also how they relate to the tissue's function.

1. Begin a discussion of the vertebrate skeleton by bringing as many intact skeletons as are practical to class.

2. Have at least one example of an upright bipedal vertebrate and at least one quadriped.

3. Using Figure 44.4, discuss how the vertebrate skeleton is divided into the axial and appendicular skeletons.

4. Bring a model of a knee joint, for example, and show how the bones articulate and how the connective tissues allow movement.

1. Use Figure 44.7 to illustrate the growth and development of a long bone.

2. Follow this with the presentation of large (cow and pig) and small (dog and cat) long bones that the students can handle.

3. Use the long bone specimens to point out the similarities and differences of the same bone in different animals.

1. Show Figure 44.10 to illustrate the three major types of muscles in vertebrates and discuss where each type can be found in the body and how their morphology relates to function.

2. Show Figure 44.11 and demonstrate the principle of antagonistic muscles by using your own biceps/triceps system.

1. Show Figure 44.13 and identify the subunits of skeletal muscle.

2. Show Figure 44.16 and discuss the sarcomere, its divisions, and its function.

1. Discuss the concept of a motor unit and include Figure 44.18.

2. Discuss all-or-none action in each motor unit.

3. Show Figure 44.19 and discuss how neurotoxins can interfere with the normal function of the neuromuscular synapse.

1. Show Figure 44.22 and discuss how chitin is structured and any similarities to vertebrate bone that can be drawn.

2. Discuss the insect flight muscle and its unique operation compared to the vertebrate muscle; use Figure 44.24 to illustrate.