What it means
One of the three kinds of muscle, with smooth musclesmooth MUS-ulMuscle that works without conscious control and lines hollow organs such as the stomach, intestines, bladder, airways and blood vessels.Full entry (in organ walls) and heart muscle. Skeletal muscle is attached to bones by tendons and contracts when the brain sends a signal through the nerves, which makes the body move. It looks striped under a microscope and makes up about 40 percent of body weight. It weakens with bed rest, so moving and exercise keep it strong.
At a glance
| Spanish | músculo esquelético |
|---|---|
| Also written | skeletal muscles |
Related terms
contraction
The tightening and shortening of a muscle.
smooth muscle
Muscle that works without conscious control and lines hollow organs such as the stomach, intestines, bladder, airways and blood vessels.
ten/o
A word part that means tendon, the tough cord that joins a muscle to a bone.
musculoskeletal
Having to do with the muscles, bones, joints, tendons and ligaments.