Final answer:
ATP was synthesized by substrate-level phosphorylation in skeletal muscle through the transfer of a phosphate from creatine phosphate to ADP.
Step-by-step explanation:
In skeletal muscle, ATP was synthesized by substrate-level phosphorylation when a phosphate group was transferred from creatine phosphate to ADP to form ATP and creatine. This process was catalyzed by the enzyme creatine kinase and is a quick way to generate ATP for muscle contraction. However, this energy source is limited and can only provide about 15 seconds of energy, after which muscles switch to glycolysis for ATP production.