Students in anatomy who learn about muscle contraction may have trouble visualizing how actin and myosin interact with each other to contract the muscle.

This worksheet provides a step by step guide of the sliding filament model, where contraction starts with a nerve impulse and ends with the muscle fibers shortening.

As they read through the steps, students color the model, which includes, actin and myosin filaments, the motor neuron, cross-bridges, and chemicals like calcium and acetylcholine. Each of these structures is labeled so that students can find them in the diagram.

Students answer questions by reading the text carefully and analyzing the model.