What is the function(s) of the skeletal/striated muscle?
They are the only muscle cells that allow you to have an impact on the environment around you and therefore you can move around. It generates force using calcium ions and utilising energy obtained from a molecule called ATP. Works by contraction, you cant lengthen a muscle but you can shorten it (if you want to know why its to do with the actin and myosin filaments but its a bit long to discuss here), that is why you have a bicep and a tricep on the opposite sides of your arm, so you can push and pull with your arms. You have a conscious control of these muscles, whereas as smooth muscle cells and cardiac cells are automatic, you cant control them by thinking but your body does subconsciously.
