Pearson Interactive Labs

This virtual lab introduces students to the parts and functions of a virtual compound microscope. They will bring a microscope slide into focus and explore the relationship between lighting and contrast, evaluate the factors involved in achieving optimal resolution of a microscope specimen, compute the total magnification, and interpret its relationship to the field of view.

What you need to know (WYNTK) Videos

• Magnification: How to use the lenses
• Focusing: How to move the slide
• Lighting: How to achieve contrast

Experiment

• Explore the parts of a compound microscope
• Coaxial stage controls, iris diaphragm level, and adjustment knobs used at every magnification
• Focus a slide at 40X TM, 100X TM, 400X TM, and 1000X TM
• Use immersion oil and how to clean it up when done
• Scavenger hunt: Scan and find a targeted area on a slide

Application

• Was the tumor removed? Microscopy use in a breast tumor biopsy case
• The case of the sick traveler- Microscopy use to diagnose malaria
  

In this virtual lab, students measure the effect of solute size, solute concentration gradient, and solution temperature on the rate of diffusion across a semipermeable membrane. Students will also analyze how particle size and lipid solubility determine whether solutes are nonpenetrating or penetrating.

What you need to know (WYNTK) Videos

• Simple diffusion occurs as a result of the random movement of molecules
• Simple diffusion through living and nonliving membranes
• Factors that affect the rate of simple diffusion

Experiment

• Test the effect of pore size on the permeability of solutes using dialysis cassettes with different molecular weight pore sizes
• Analyze data to determine the relative size of albumin, glucose, urea, and sodium chloride
• Determine the relative rates of diffusion based on solute size
• Test the effect of solute concentration on the rate of diffusion
• Choose a viable experimental plan for testing the effect of temperature on the rate of diffusion
• Test the effect of temperature on the rate of diffusion

Application

• Hemodialysis uses simple diffusion to cleanse the blood
• "I have rhabdo what?"
  

In this virtual lab, students explore the effect of nonpenetrating and penetrating solutes on the movement of water across a semipermeable membrane by manipulating key variables, including nonpenetrating versus penetrating solutes, nonpenetrating solute concentration, and molecular weight of the nonpenetrating solute to see the effect these variables have on osmotic pressure.

What you need to know (WYNTK) Videos

• Movement of water across a membrane
• Visualizing the effect that tonicity has on cell volume
• Osmotic pressure can be measured

Experiment

• Use an apparatus that has two cylinders separated by a semipermeable membrane to observe osmosis
• Predict the effect that permeability of a solute will have on osmotic pressure
• Observe the effect that nonpenetrating solutes have on the movement of water through a semipermeable membrane.
• Use dipsticks to detect the presence of solutes and to determine permeability of solutes
• Predict the effect that solute concentration will have on osmotic pressure when the solute is not able to pass through the membrane
• Predict the effect that solute size will have on osmotic pressure when the solute is not able to pass through the membrane

Application

• A rugby game leads to an osmotic gradient in the brain
  

In this virtual lab, students explore the axon’s membrane potential using a simulated live longfin inshore squid. Chemical reagents are used to induce EPSPs (subthreshold and threshold) and IPSPs and students will use the resulting voltage readings to predict the state of voltage-gated sodium channels (open or closed) and determine whether an action potential was successfully initiated.

What you need to know (WYNTK) Videos

• Incoming stimuli create graded potentials
• Initiation of an action potential
• Summation

Experiment

• Contextualize neurophysiology experiments by harvesting a giant neuron from a longfin inshore squid to be used in the experiment
• Place recording and reference microelectrodes
• Generate EPSPs and IPSPs individually by adding chemical reagents
• Create a summation event by generating EPSPs and IPSPs at the same time
• Predict status of both chemically gated and voltage-gated ion channels
• Monitor subthreshold and threshold electrical changes at the axon initial segment using a voltmeter

Application

• A journey through unexplained muscle weakness - Myasthenia gravis
  

In this virtual lab, students use a frog’s gastrocnemius muscle to explore the dynamics of skeletal muscle contraction by studying the effects of stimulus intensity on force generation, muscle length on force generation, and stimulus frequency on force generation. Resulting myograms are interpreted and pertinent data points are recorded by the student.

What you need to know (WYNTK) Videos

• Phases of a muscle twitch
• Effect of stimulus intensity and stimulus frequency on contraction
• Effect of muscle length on contraction

Experiment

• Contextualize muscle physiology experiments by harvesting the gastrocnemius from a frog to be used in the experiment
• Connect the stimulus generator and transducer to the muscle
• Determine minimal and maximal stimulus by varying stimulus intensity
• Determine optimal muscle resting length for maximal force generation
• Generate wave summation, incomplete tetanus and complete tetanus by varying stimulus frequency
• Interpret myograms

Application

• Tendon Troubles- ruptured Achilles tendon
  

In this virtual lab, students measure and calculate respiratory volumes and capacities and explore factors that affect pulmonary ventilation. They will relate the mechanics of breathing to the air pressure–volume relationship and describe the different types of breathing (quiet breathing and forced respiratory events).

What you need to know (WYNTK) Videos

• Pulmonary ventilation
• Pulmonary volumes and capacities
• Air flow

Experiment

• Practice choosing the correct breathing pattern from a menu of choices to learn the volumes and capacities
• Practice using spirograms to determine lung volumes (tidal volume and expiratory reserve volume) and vital capacity
• Calculate the predicted vital capacity for an individual of known height and age
• Compare the predicted vital capacity to the measured vital capacity
• Calculate the inspiratory reserve volume from the measured volumes and capacities
• Manipulate the airway diameter to explore the effects to lung function using measured forced vital capacity, force expiratory volume (one second), and force expiratory volume percent
• Predict the effect that a restrictive lung disease such as pulmonary fibrosis will have on lung function
• Test the effect of pulmonary fibrosis with a mechanical lung that simulates restricted lung function

Application

• A tale of two brothers – exploring restrictive and obstructive lung diseases
  

In this virtual lab, students explore the chemical digestion of all three macronutrients: carbohydrates, protein, and fat. They consider substrate specificity of digestive enzymes, conditions that impact enzyme activity, and resulting products of enzymatic reactions.

What you need to know (WYNTK) Videos

• Carbohydrate digestion
• Protein digestion
• Fat digestion

Experiment

• Test enzyme specificity by using amylase on starch, cellulose, and sucralose
• Test the effect of temperature on enzymatic activity using amylase and starch at 20°C, 37°C, 40°C and 50°C

Application

• A dairy dilemma: When milk strikes back- Lactose intolerance
  

In this virtual lab, students analyze urine samples, measure specific gravity, and test for abnormal constituents. They will make distinctions between the typical chemical components of the filtrate and urine. Students will then relate urine collection procedures to the detection of infections in the urinary tract, describe how the composition of urine relates to a specific gravity, and interpret the characteristics of urine to make clinical connections.

What you need to know (WYNTK) Videos

• Essentials of how and why urine is formed
• Urine collection and physical analysis of urine
• Using combination dipsticks to detect abnormal constituents in urine

Experiment

• Analysis of the physical and chemical characteristics for three urine samples
• Physical characteristics analyzed include color, transparency, and specific gravity.
• Practice correlating specific gravity to hydration level
• Practice interpreting combination dipstick colors to the presence or absence of abnormal constituents
• Focus on the importance of blotting the dipstick for accurate results
• Chemical analysis of urine samples includes glucose, ketones, blood, pH, protein, nitrite, and leukocytes
• Practice connecting the presence of atypical urine constituents to possible causes and conditions

Application

• The case of the foamy pink urine – Glomerulonephritis
  

In this virtual lab, students measure blood pressure using sphygmomanometry and heart rate by taking a pulse. Students will learn the difference between systolic and diastolic pressures, distinguish pulse pressure from pulse rate, define and calculate mean arterial pressure, and relate mean arterial pressure to blood flow. Students will predict how pulse varies with the anatomical location at which it is measured, how exercise affects blood pressure/pulse, and how nicotine affects blood pressure/pulse.

What you need to know (WYNTK) Videos

• Blood pressure and how it is measured
• Pulse rate and pulse pressure
• Mean arterial pressure

Experiment

• Measuring blood pressure, pulse rate, and pulse intensity for the same patient to explore the effects of recent exercise, and recent nicotine use
• Focus on the importance of body position of the patient and placement of the blood pressure cuff for accurate results
• Predict the effect that anatomical location will have on pulse rate and intensity
• Practice calculating mean arterial pressure
• Predict the effect of recent exercise on blood pressure and pulse
• Predict the effect of recent nicotine use on blood pressure and pulse

Application

• How low is too low? – controlling hypertension
  

In this virtual lab, students explore the fundamental principles of electrocardiography by analyzing the electrical activity of the heart. Students will observe how heart rate, rhythm, and electrical conduction pathways are recorded and interpreted. They will measure intervals, calculate heart rates, and evaluate normal versus abnormal ECG patterns, fostering a deeper understanding of cardiovascular physiology and clinical relevance.

What you need to know (WYNTK) Videos

• The sequential excitation of the heart leads to contraction of the atria and then the ventricles.
• Recording and interpreting an electrocardiogram
• Using electrocardiography to assess cardiac function

Experiment

• Practice preparing a patient for electrocardiography
• Correlate the various deflections, segments, and intervals of an ECG tracing to cardiac electrophysiology.
• Measure key ECG components
• Calculate heart rate from the R-R interval
• Predict the effect of exercise on the R-R interval
• Assess ventricular rhythm and atrial rhythm
• Explore the characteristics of AV heart block

Application

• Exploring atrial fibrillation