AGRICULTURE EDUCATION
Introduction to Veterinary Medical Science
Unit I: Anatomy and Physiology
Terminal Objective: The student shall know the anatomy and physiology of certain body systems.
Lesson: Topic I -3 The Muscular System
Lesson objective(s):

Students will investigate the body systems and gain a working knowledge of how each system functions, its purpose, and how
it is affected by disease.

Students will develop a vocabulary of directional anatomical terms and will be able to identify anatomical structures of animals.

Students will apply their knowledge by dissection and assembling anatomical models.
Essential Question(s): What is considered to be a normal body system?
Estimated Time: 1 period
Course TEKS: The student will investigate the body systems
and gain a working knowledge of how each system functions,
its purpose, and how it is affected by disease. The student is
expected to:

(c)(6)(A) identify the parts of the skeletal, muscular,
respiratory, circulatory, nervous, urinary, reproductive,
endocrine, and Integumentary systems.

(c)(6)(B) describe the functions of skeletal, muscular,
respiratory, circulatory, nervous, urinary, reproductive,
endocrine, and Integumentary system.

(c)(6)(C) apply knowledge of veterinary anatomy by
identifying areas for injections, measuring vital signs and
collecting blood samples for various animal species.
TAKS Objectives
English LA:
Math:
Science:
Social Studies:
Instructional Mode: Lecture, whole group, partners, and
individual
Enabling Objectives:
1.
Identify the parts and functions of the muscular system of
animals.
Concepts Important to Know and Understand:
1.
2.
3.
Anatomy and physiology are the foundations on which
veterinary medicine is built.
Each complex system of an animal’s body is designed to
work in unison with all other body systems. When one
system malfunctions, other systems are also affected.
A basic understanding of veterinary anatomy and
physiology is essential for the veterinary assistant.
Terms to Know:
Evaluations:
Informal

Teacher observation of the students as they engage in discussions and activities related to this unit and the willingness to take
the initiative to follow up on non-graded assignments.
Formal

Evaluation of a cognitive test centered on the technical or subject matter information covered for each of the enabling
objectives.
NOTES:
DAY 3
Knowing the Muscular System
Why do we need to study the muscular system?
Focus Questions
Engaging Activities
1. Using slide 3 define the
1. What is the skeletal system?
skeletal system.
2. What skill areas will be
strengthened by knowing the
anatomy and physiology of the
skeleton system?
2. Have students read “Animal
Science”
8646-D
and
complete the student activities
for
additional
information
concerning
the
muscular
system.
3. Using slides 4 discuss the
skill areas that are reinforced
by knowing the muscular
system.
Additional Information
We sometimes take them for
granted, but muscles are the
“engine” that the body uses to
turn energy into motion. These
organs are responsible for the
voluntary
and
involuntary
movements of the body. Some
muscles move the legs, some
pump the blood, some aids in
digestion, while others make
the eyes blink.
By understanding how this
system and its associated parts
function and operate the
veterinary technician will be
better able to provide proper
care and therapy to animals.
Reference Materials
Animal Care Training – ppt
TOPIC I-3 – The Muscular
System - Slides 3-4
Instructional
Materials
Service,
Texas
A&M
University, “Animal Science”
(Agri-science 332) catalog No.
8831-B)
Veterinary
Assistant
Handbook, IV-1-1 by Dr.
Floron C. Faries available from
Instructional
Materials
Services; TAMU
Veterinary
Science
Curriculum
Package
–
“Anatomy and Physiology”;
CMS – Ohio State - order
number PID146
Laboratory
Manual
for
Comparative
Veterinary
Anatomy and Physiology;
Phillip E. Cochran, MS, DVM;
Thomson Learning
How Muscles Function
What causes muscles to relax and contract?
Focus Questions
Engaging Activities
1. If your muscles did not 1. Using slides 5-6-7-8-9 how
contract what would happen?
muscles operate.
Possible replies:

You would not be able 2. Read Chapter 8 in the
Laboratory
Manual
for
to move.
Comparative
Veterinary
Anatomy and Physiology
Additional Information
Muscle tissue is primarily made
up of proteins called actins and
myosin. They are responsible
for making the muscle get
shorter which is known as a
contraction.
When a nerve says contract,
the cells must contract together
to shorten the muscle. This
message is sent by means of
an electrical current to the cells
and they in turn forward the
message on to other cells that
are near to them.
Holes called calcium channels
open in the cell membrane
allowing calcium to enter into
the cell which sticks to the actin
and myosin causing these
protein molecules to contract.
Energy is also needed to
contract muscles and it is made
by burning glucose in the cells.
NOTES: Day 3 is continued on the next page.
Reference Materials
Animal Care Training – ppt
TOPIC I-3 – The Muscular
System – Slides 5-6-7-8-9
Veterinary
Science
Curriculum
Package
–
“Anatomy and Physiology”;
CMS – Ohio State - order
number PID146
Laboratory
Manual
for
Comparative
Veterinary
Anatomy and Physiology;
Phillip E. Cochran, MS, DVM;
Thomson Learning
Veterinary
Assistant
Handbook, IV-1-1 by Dr.
Floron C. Faries available from
Instructional
Materials
Services; TAMU
DAY 3 Continued
Muscle Types
What is meant by voluntary and involuntary muscles?
Focus Questions
Focus Questions
1.
What is the difference 1. Using slides 10-11 explain
between
voluntary
and the
difference
between
involuntary muscles?
voluntary
and
involuntary
Possible replies:
muscles.

Function when told to
do so

Function automatic
2. Can you name some of the
specific kinds of muscles?
Possible replies:

Biceps

Heart
2. Using slides 12-13-14 list
the kinds of muscles.
Focus Questions
The three kinds of muscles are
the skeletal muscle, the
cardiac muscle, and smooth
muscles.
The
skeletal
muscles are all voluntary while
the
cardiac
and
smooth
muscles are responsible for the
involuntary movements of the
body.
3. Using slide 15 and handout
#7
from
the
Veterinary
Science Curriculum Package
– “Anatomy and Physiology”;
identify some of the different
muscles.
Focus Questions
Animal Care Training – ppt
TOPIC I-3 – The Muscular
System – Slides 10-11-12-1314-15
Veterinary
Science
Curriculum
Package
–
“Anatomy and Physiology”;
CMS – Ohio State - order
number PID146
Laboratory
Manual
for
Comparative
Veterinary
Anatomy and Physiology;
Phillip E. Cochran, MS, DVM;
Thomson Learning
Veterinary
Assistant
Handbook, IX-1-1 by Dr.
Floron C. Faries available from
Instructional
Materials
Services; TAMU
Muscle Movement
In what directions can muscles move?
Focus Questions
Engaging Activities
1. Which way can you make 1. Using slides 16-17-18-1920 and the Veterinary Science
your muscles move?
Possible replies:
Curriculum Package discuss the
different types of muscle

Up
movement.

Down

Sideways
2.
What happens when
muscles are used extensively?
2. Using slides 21-22 discuss
factors involved in muscle
usage.
Additional Information
As
previously
discussed
muscle function by either
relaxing or contracting. The
directions that they can move in
are classified as following:
Ambulation: moving from
one place to another
Abduction: moving away
from the median plane
Adduction:
moving
towards the median plane
Flexion: moving the distal
part of the limb towards the
body
Extension: moving the
distal part of the limb away
from the body
Many times when an animal
uses its muscles strenuously
the other systems of the body
either focus on helping the
muscles do their work or they
shut down. For example, when
a horse runs the heart beats
faster to pump more blood to
the muscles, and its stomach
stops digesting so that it
doesn't waste energy. When
the horse stops running, the
heart will slow back down to its
normal pace, and the stomach
will start its work again.
Reference Materials
Animal Care Training – ppt
TOPIC I-3 – The Muscular
System – Slides 16-17-18-1920-21
Veterinary Science Curriculum
Package – “Anatomy and
Physiology”; CMS – Ohio State
- order number PID146
Laboratory
Manual
for
Comparative
Veterinary
Anatomy and Physiology;
Phillip E. Cochran, MS, DVM;
Thomson Learning
Veterinary Assistant Handbook,
IX-1-1 by Dr. Floron C. Faries
available from Instructional
Materials Services; TAMU
“Virtual
Cat
Dissection”
Pennsylvania
State
University
http://bio.bd.psu.edu/cat/
ACTIVITIES:

Visit the “Virtual Cat Dissection” web page, the muscular system, to practice identification of the types of muscles.

NOTES: