AFAA Personal Trainer Certification Practice Exam

What type of muscle is attached to the bones and facilitates movement?

1. Smooth muscle

2. Cardiac muscle

3. Skeletal muscle

4. None of the above

The correct answer is: Skeletal muscle

Skeletal muscle is the type of muscle that is attached to bones and plays a vital role in facilitating movement. These muscles are under voluntary control, meaning that individuals can consciously contract and relax them to produce movement. Skeletal muscles are characterized by their striated appearance due to the arrangement of muscle fibers and are responsible for movements of the limbs and other body parts, enabling activities such as walking, running, and lifting. Smooth muscle, in contrast, is found in the walls of hollow organs and is responsible for involuntary movements, such as peristalsis in the digestive tract. Cardiac muscle is specialized tissue found only in the heart, responsible for pumping blood throughout the body, and operates under involuntary control as well. Therefore, skeletal muscle is uniquely suited for facilitating movement through its attachment to the skeletal system.