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8.1: Types of Muscle

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    There are three types of muscle in the human body. The most abundant type is called skeletal muscle because virtually all these muscles are attached to the bones of the skeletal system. Skeletal muscle makes up the more than 600 muscles in the body, most of which are close to the surface of the body, between the integumentary system and the bones (Figure 8.1). Many muscles bulge when they contract; therefore, they are visible and can be felt as firm lumps under the skin. This chapter is concerned mainly with skeletal muscle.

    clipboard_e9c6c898dc531b77a8f7d22a9327adb9c.png
    Figure 8.1 Skeletal muscles in the muscle system. (Source of image below. Used with permission.)

    Cardiac muscle is found exclusively in the heart (Chapter 4). Visceral muscle, or smooth muscle, is found within organs in many body systems.


    This page titled 8.1: Types of Muscle is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Augustine G. DiGiovanna via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform.

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