Skeletal muscle

Skeletal muscle is a type of striated muscle, attached to the skeleton. Skeletal muscles are used to facilitate movement, by applying force to bones and joints; via contraction. They generally contract voluntarily (via nerve stimulation), although they can contract involuntarily.

Related Topics:
Striated - Muscle - Skeleton - Movement - Force - Bone - Joint - Contraction - Voluntarily - Nerve

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Muscles have an elongated, cylindrical shape, and are multinucleated. The nuclei of these muscles are located just under the plasma membrane, which vacates the central part of the muscle fiber for myofibrils. This unique arrangement of the nuclei allows for higher efficiency. These muscles usually have one end (the "origin") attached to a relatively stationary bone, (such as the scapula) and the other end (the "insertion") is attached across a joint, to another bone (such as the humerus).

Related Topics:
Cylindrical - Shape - Multinucleated - Plasma membrane - Muscle fiber - Myofibril - Origin - Scapula - Joint - Humerus

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There are two types of fibers for skeletal muscles: Type I and Type II. Type I fibers appear reddish. They are good for endurance and are slow to tire because they use oxidated metabolism. Type II fibers are whitish; they are used for short bursts of speed and power, use anaerobic metabolism, and are therefore quicker to tire.

Related Topics:
Oxidated metabolism - Anaerobic metabolism

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