Experimental setup

The experimental setup to measure muscle contractions is composed by different elements, which have different functions in order to provide the sample with the appropriate physicochemical conditions to resemble the real physiological environment:

• Tyrode tank: it contains the Tyrode solution, which provides an isotonic environment to the piece of intestine used in the laboratory.

• Water bath with thermostat: it is used to provide the sample with the adequate temperature of 37 °C.

• Force transducer: also called myograph, this is the part of the setup that converts the mechanical force of muscle contraction into an electrical output signal. In order to do so, the sample needs to be connected to it, which is normally achieved by using a thread tied to both the sample and the force transducer. This design allows the force transducer to register the pulling of the muscle when it contracts.

• Analysis system: this module collects the electrical signal from the force transducer and transforms it into digital data to be recorded by the software in the computer. It provides the data that allows the software to plot the graph that indicates the force and frequency of contractions over time.