Aim of the experiment:

To prepare a temporary mount of Striated Muscle (Thigh Muscle of Toad) and to study
its characteristics.

Procedure:
Step 1: A preserved frog is placed on a dissecting tray containing water.
Step 2: The animal is exposed its thigh region. (As an alternate preserved sample of striated
muscle can be taken)
Step 3: A small piece of muscle from the thigh region is dissected out and teased it on a slide
with the help of needles to get a few thinnest possible fibres.
Step 4: It is washed in water in a petri dish, changing the water 2-3 times to remove the
preservative (in case of preserved specimen), as it may interfere with staining.
Step 5: A few drops of methylene blue is added to stain the muscle fibres.
Step 6: After staining, the stained specimen is put on a slide and teased it further, if necessary,
with needles so that the muscle fibres are well separated.
Step 7: The excess of water and stain is blotted out.
Step 8: A drop of glycerine is dropped on the slide and with the help of a needle the coverslip
is gently placed so that air bubbles are avoided.
Step 9: The coverslip is gently pressed with a needle to spread the glycerine and the muscles
properly.
Step 10: The slide is examined under the microscope.

Observation:
The following features of the muscle fibre are observed:
• Muscle fibres are elongated, cylindrical and multinucleated (syncytium).
• These fibres are enclosed in a membrane called sarcolemma.
• Several dark and light bands are alternately arranged perpendicularly to the long axis of the
fibre. Presence of these bands alternately produce striations, hence these muscles are called
striated muscles.
 Figure: Striated muscle of frog

Discussion:
Striated muscles constitute the main component of musculature of our body, primarily
attached to bones via tendons, hence are also called skeletal muscles. Their contractions are
voluntary in nature and thus are not controlled by autonomic nervous system