Skeletal muscle tissue

Definition

Skeletal muscle tissue is a type of muscle tissue that is attached to bones and enables voluntary movement. It is composed of long, multinucleated fibers and exhibits striations under a microscope.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Skeletal muscle fibers are multinucleated due to the fusion of myoblasts during development.
2. The primary function of skeletal muscle tissue is to facilitate voluntary movements by contracting in response to neural stimuli.
3. Skeletal muscles exhibit a striated appearance due to the organized arrangement of actin and myosin filaments into sarcomeres.
4. Muscle contraction in skeletal muscles follows the sliding filament theory, where actin and myosin filaments slide past each other to shorten the muscle fiber.
5. Skeletal muscles are controlled by motor neurons that release acetylcholine at neuromuscular junctions, triggering an action potential in the muscle fiber.

Review Questions

• What structural feature gives skeletal muscle its striated appearance?
• How do skeletal muscles contribute to voluntary movement?
• What role does acetylcholine play in skeletal muscle contraction?

Related terms

Sarcomere: The basic contractile unit of striated muscle fibers, composed of repeating sections of actin and myosin filaments.

Motor Neuron: A type of neuron that transmits signals from the central nervous system to skeletal muscles, causing them to contract.

Neuromuscular Junction: The synapse or connection between a motor neuron and a skeletal muscle fiber where neurotransmitters are released to stimulate muscle contraction.