skeletal muscle system and how it works
1 The bones of the skeletal system protect the body's internal organs, support the weight of the body, and serve as the main storage system for calcium and phosphorus.  The muscles of the muscular system keep bones in place; they assist with movement by contracting and pulling on the bones.
Cross section of a skeletal muscle (200x) showing the muscle fibers (red) and the fat cells (white) Skeletal muscle is also called striated muscle, because when it is viewed under polarized light or stained with an indicator, you can see alternating stripes of light and dark. Skeletal muscle has a complex structure that is essential to how it contracts. We will tease apart a skeletal muscle, starting with the largest structures and working our way to the smaller ones.