
The human body has over 600 muscles, which are attached to the bones of the skeletal system. Muscles are attached to bone, or sometimes other muscles or tissues, at two or more places. These attachments are called origins or insertions, depending on whether the bone remains immobile or moves during an action. Most skeletal muscles are attached to two bones through tendons, which are tough bands of dense connective tissue.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of muscles in the human body | Over 600 |
| Number of muscles attached to the bones of the skeletal system | About 700 |
| Number of points of attachment for skeletal muscles | Two or more |
| Number of points of attachment for the triceps brachii | Four |
| Type of tissue that attaches muscles to bones | Tendons |
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What You'll Learn

Muscles are attached to bones, other muscles or tissues
Most skeletal muscles are attached to two bones across a joint, with the muscle serving to move parts of those bones closer to each other. Skeletal muscles derive their name from the fact that they always connect to the skeleton in at least one place. They are attached to bones through tendons, which are tough bands of dense regular connective tissue whose strong collagen fibres firmly attach muscles to bones.
If a muscle is attached to a bone that remains immobile for an action, the attachment is called an origin. If the place is on the bone that moves during the action, the attachment is called an insertion. For example, the triceps brachii has four points of attachment: one insertion on the ulna and three origins (two on the humerus and one on the scapula).
Some muscles are named based on their connection to a stationary bone (origin) and a moving bone (insertion). For example, the tibialis anterior is named after the part of the bone (the anterior portion of the tibia) that it is attached to. Other muscles use a hybrid of these two, like the brachioradialis, which is named after a region (brachial) and a bone (radius).
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There are three types of muscle tissue: visceral, cardiac and skeletal
Skeletal muscle is attached to the skeleton in at least one place, with most skeletal muscles attached to two bones across a joint through tendons. Tendons are tough bands of dense regular connective tissue whose strong collagen fibres firmly attach muscles to bones. Skeletal muscles are voluntary, moving when you think about moving that part of your body.
Cardiac muscle is found in the walls of the heart and pumps blood through the circulatory system. Cardiac muscle cells appear striped (striated) and are under involuntary control.
Visceral muscle is found inside organs like the stomach, intestines and blood vessels. Smooth muscle fibres are located in the walls of hollow visceral organs, except the heart, and are also under involuntary control.
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Skeletal muscles are attached to two bones across a joint
Muscles are attached to bone (or sometimes other muscles or tissues) at two or more places. If the place is a bone that remains immobile for an action, the attachment is called an origin. If the place is on the bone that moves during the action, the attachment is called an insertion. The muscles surrounding synovial joints are responsible for moving the body in space.
Most skeletal muscles are attached to two bones through tendons. Tendons are tough bands of dense regular connective tissue whose strong collagen fibres firmly attach muscles to bones. These muscles become very easy to identify once you know the names of the bones that they are attached to. For example, the tibialis anterior is named after the part of the bone (the anterior portion of the tibia) that it is attached to.
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Muscles are attached at two or more places
Most skeletal muscles are attached to two bones across a joint, so the muscle serves to move parts of those bones closer to each other. Skeletal muscle derives its name from the fact that these muscles always connect to the skeleton in at least one place. Most skeletal muscles are attached to two bones through tendons. Tendons are tough bands of dense regular connective tissue whose strong collagen fibres firmly attach muscles to bones.
Many muscles derive their names from their anatomical region. The rectus abdominis and transverse abdominis, for example, are found in the abdominal region. Some muscles, like the tibialis anterior, are named after the part of the bone (the anterior portion of the tibia) that they are attached to. Other muscles use a hybrid of these two, like the brachioradialis, which is named after a region (brachial) and a bone (radius).
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Muscles are attached to tendons, which are tough bands of connective tissue
Skeletal muscle derives its name from the fact that these muscles always connect to the skeleton in at least one place. There are about 700 named skeletal muscles in the human body, making up roughly half of a person's body weight. Some muscles are named based on their connection to a stationary bone (origin) and a moving bone (insertion). For example, the triceps brachii has four points of attachment: one insertion on the ulna and three origins (two on the humerus and one on the scapula).
Muscles surrounding synovial joints are responsible for moving the body in space. These muscle actions are often paired, like flexion and extension or abduction and adduction.
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Frequently asked questions
Muscles are attached to the bones of the skeletal system.
There are over 600 muscles in the human body.
Muscles are attached to bone, other muscles or tissues.
If the attachment is on a bone that remains immobile for an action, it is called an origin. If the attachment is on a bone that moves during the action, it is called an insertion.
Muscles are attached to two bones across a joint, so the muscle serves to move parts of those bones closer to each other.





































