This is a cross-section view of a skeletal muscle fiber - the fundamental unit of muscle contraction. Each fiber is like a cable made of thousands of smaller protein filaments arranged in a precise pattern. The alternating light and dark bands you see create the characteristic striped appearance of skeletal muscle.
đŦ Key Structures
Myofibrils contain contractile proteins
Sarcomeres are the functional units
Z-lines anchor thin filaments
M-lines anchor thick filaments
Amazing Fact!
A single muscle fiber can be up to 30 cm long and contains thousands of myofibrils, each thinner than a human hair!
đ¯ Learning Objectives
Understand the organization of muscle fibers and how their structure enables contraction and movement.