127k views
3 votes
Describe the organization of a skeletal muscle cell/fiber including the mitochondria, myofibrils, and sarcomere

User TidB
by
8.6k points

1 Answer

4 votes

Final answer:

Skeletal muscle cells, or fibers, have a complex structure with a surrounding sarcolemma and contain mitochondria for energy, and myofibrils composed of sarcomeres with regular overlapping patterns of actin and myosin filaments responsible for muscle contractions.

Step-by-step explanation:

The organization of a skeletal muscle cell, also known as a muscle fiber, is complex and specialized for contraction. At the microscopic level, skeletal muscle fibers are long, multinucleated cells surrounded by a plasma membrane called the sarcolemma, containing the cytoplasm or sarcoplasm.

Within each muscle fiber are many myofibrils, which are bundles of myofilaments. Myofibrils are responsible for the striated appearance of skeletal muscle and are composed of repeating units called sarcomeres, the fundamental units of muscle contraction.

Sarcomeres are organized with thick and thin filaments; the thick filaments are composed of myosin and the thin filaments are composed of actin. The regular overlapping pattern of these filaments creates the striations observed in muscle fibers.

Skeletal muscles are further organized with numerous fibers bundled together in structures known as fascicles, which collectively form the bulk of the muscle tissue. The whole structure allows for efficient contraction and force generation, essential for movement.

User Doque
by
8.4k points