Summary Skeletal Muscle Attachments

Skeletal Muscle Attachments
Skeletal muscles are attached to bones through extensions of their
connective tissue.

There are two ways a muscle can attach to a bone:

1-Direct: the epimysium fuses with the periosteum (e.g., Intercostal muscles)

2-Indirect: the connective tissue of the muscle forms a rope-like structure,
the tendon

(e.g., Biceps brachii attachment to scapula), or a flattened sheet-like
structure, the aponeurosis that attaches to the bone, cartilage, muscle, fascia
or skin, e.g., Abdominal muscles

– Indirect attachments to bones are small, and save space

– Skeletal muscle activity is controlled by the somatic (voluntary) division
of the nervous system.

Muscle has two parts:
• Belly: is the fleshy contractile part and is generally attached on the bone
that is proximal to the bone that is to be moved.



• Tendon: attached to muscle, cross the joint and attached on the bone that
is to be moved



• A flattened tendon it is called aponeurosis.

• Skeletal muscles crosses joints and is attached to a bone at either end by a
tendon.