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Skeletal muscle

Adapted from Wikipedia · Explorer experience

Diagram showing the structure of a skeletal muscle fiber, helping us understand how our muscles work.

Skeletal Muscle

Skeletal muscle is a special kind of muscle that helps us move. It is attached to our bones by thin bands called tendons. When we walk, jump, or even smile, these muscles are at work! They are part of our voluntary muscular system, meaning we can control them with our thoughts.

Skeletal muscles are made of long, thin cells called muscle fibers. These fibers look striped under a microscope because of how they are built. Inside each fiber are tiny parts called sarcomeres, which help the muscle shrink and pull on bones to make our bodies move.

There are more than 600 skeletal muscles in our bodies! They come in pairs on both sides and help us do many things, like moving, keeping warm, and standing up straight. These muscles make up a big part of our body weight — about 35% in children and young adults.

Muscles come in different shapes and sizes, depending on what they need to do. For example, the biceps in our arms has two round parts, and the gluteus maximus in our butts is one of the biggest muscles. Each muscle has a special job, and they all work together to help us move easily.

Exercise is wonderful for our muscles! When we play, run, or lift light weights, our muscles can grow stronger and healthier. This happens because our muscles become better at using energy and fixing tiny tears that happen when we move a lot. Regular movement keeps our bodies happy and strong.

Images

A man and a woman jogging together in Riverside Park on a nice spring day.
A labeled diagram showing different muscle groups in the human body, helpful for learning about anatomy.
A detailed diagram showing the muscles on the back of the human body, helpful for learning about anatomy.
An educational illustration showing different types of human muscles.
Diagram showing how different parts of our body, like the skull, foot, and arm, work as simple machines called levers.
Diagram showing how muscles contract according to the Sliding Filament Model
Diagram showing how muscles contract: tiny structures called crossbridges link the muscle fibers together, allowing them to pull and move.
Illustration showing how muscles use energy during activity
A detailed diagram showing the structure of T-tubules in muscle cells, helpful for learning about human anatomy.

This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Skeletal muscle, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

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