Anatomy of Muscle Tissue

Muscle tissue is composed of long, fibrous cells called muscle fibers that contract to produce movement. These fibers contain smaller units called myofibrils, which are made up of repeating segments called sarcomeres. Sarcomeres contain various proteins, mainly actin and myosin, that slide past each other during contraction. Blood vessels supply oxygen and nutrients to the muscle, while nerves control when a muscle contracts. The structure is organized to allow muscles to generate force efficiently, enabling everything from tiny movements to powerful actions.