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11.3: Macroscopic Anatomy of Skeletal Muscles

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    Macroscopic Anatomy of Skeletal Muscles

    Arrangement of the fascicles in skeletal muscles have certain patterns and arrangements including:

    • circular muscle: fascicles arranged in a circle (also called sphincters)
    • convergent muscle: broad muscle with fascicles converging in a single point of attachment
    • parallel fusiform muscle: muscle with rounded middle with the fascicles parallel to each other
    • parallel non-fusiform muscle: flat muscle with the fascicles parallel to each other
    • unipennate muscle: fascicles branch off a central tendon like one side of a feather
    • bipennate muscle: fascicles branch off a central tendon on two sides like a feather
    • multipennate muscle: fascicles branch off a central tendon on more than two sides in a feather-like pattern