Skeletal striated muscle is a voluntary type of muscle tissue that is primarily responsible for body movement and is found attached to bones through tendons. It is called "skeletal" because it is associated with the bones of the skeleton, and "striated" due to its characteristic striped appearance under a microscope.
This type of muscle tissue is composed of elongated cells called muscle fibers that are multinucleated, meaning they contain multiple nuclei. The striations in skeletal muscle fibers result from the highly organized arrangement of contractile proteins, namely actin and myosin filaments, within the cells. This arrangement enables the muscle to contract efficiently and generate the force required for movement.
Skeletal striated muscle is under voluntary control, meaning its activity can be consciously regulated by the central nervous system. When an individual wants to move, the brain sends signals to the skeletal muscle, causing the fibers to contract. This contraction results in the shortening of muscle fibers, leading to the desired movement. Skeletal muscle is responsible for various activities such as walking, running, lifting objects, and maintaining body posture.
In addition to movement, skeletal striated muscle also plays a crucial role in stabilizing joints, maintaining body temperature, and protecting internal organs. It is highly adaptable and can undergo hypertrophy (increase in size) through regular exercise or atrophy (decrease in size) in the absence of use or due to certain diseases.
Overall, skeletal striated muscle is a specialized type of muscle tissue that enables voluntary movement and provides structural support to the human body.
