What type of muscle is attached to bones and facilitates voluntary movement?

• A. Cardiac
• B. Involuntary
• C. Skeletal
• D. Smooth

Answer: (C)

The ability to move bones on purpose comes from skeletal muscle. It attaches to bones (usually via tendons) and contracts to pull the bones at joints, producing movement that you can control consciously. This type of muscle is activated by the somatic nervous system, so you decide when it contracts. Cardiac muscle, found in the heart, contracts automatically to pump blood, and smooth muscle lines hollow organs and vessels, contracting involuntarily to move substances or regulate flow. Skeletal muscles are arranged in fibers that work via the sliding filament mechanism, using calcium and ATP to shorten and generate force. An example is the biceps brachii bending the elbow when you lift something.