OCR General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) Biology Practice Exam

Which muscle type is described as being attached to the skeleton?

1. Skeletal muscle

2. Cardiac muscle

3. Smooth muscle

4. Connective muscle

The correct answer is: Skeletal muscle

Skeletal muscle is the type of muscle that is specifically designed to be attached to the skeleton through tendons. This connection is crucial as it allows for voluntary movements, enabling us to perform various actions such as walking, lifting, and even facial expressions. Skeletal muscles are striated in appearance, meaning they have a banded structure under a microscope, which is a characteristic distinctive from other muscle types. In contrast, cardiac muscle, which is found only in the heart, is responsible for pumping blood and operates involuntarily. Smooth muscle, located in the walls of hollow organs like the intestines and blood vessels, is also involuntary and does not have the striated appearance typical of skeletal muscle. "Connective muscle" is not a recognized category in muscle physiology, which further isolates skeletal muscle as the unique type connected to the skeletal framework, facilitating voluntary, controlled movements.