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9.1: Introduction to Muscle Tissue

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  • Page ID
    22315

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    Chapter Learning Objectives

    After studying this chapter, you will be able to:

    • Explain the organization of muscle tissue
    • Describe the function and structure of skeletal, cardiac muscle, and smooth muscle
    • Explain how muscles work with tendons to move the body
    • Describe how muscles contract and relax
    • Explain the development and regeneration of muscle tissue

    When most people think of muscles, they think of the muscles that are visible just under the skin, particularly of the limbs. These are skeletal muscles, so-named because most of them move the skeleton. But there are two other types of muscle in the body, with distinctly different jobs. Cardiac muscle, found in the heart, functions to pump blood through the circulatory system. Smooth muscle functions in various involuntary movements, such as having one’s hair stand on end when cold or frightened, or moving food through the digestive system. This chapter will focus on the structure and function of skeletal muscles.

    Man playing tennis
    Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\): Tennis Player. Athletes rely on toned skeletal muscles to supply the force required for movement. (Image credit: "Tennis Player" by Emmanuel Huybrechts is licensed under CC BY 4.0)

    Contributors and Attributions

    This page titled 9.1: Introduction to Muscle Tissue is shared under a CC BY license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Whitney Menefee, Julie Jenks, Chiara Mazzasette, & Kim-Leiloni Nguyen (ASCCC Open Educational Resources Initiative) .