The combined action of muscles and connective tissue, including the tendons, exerting force on the bones of the skeleton is responsible for the movement and stability of the body. Herein we discuss multiple aspects of the skeletal muscles and tendons. We describe each tissue individually, starting with an explanation of the different muscle types as well as the anatomy of skeletal muscle, focusing on the anatomy and action of the sarcomere. The classification of the diverse fascicular arrangements found in skeletal muscle precedes the description of the different muscle fibres and the relationship between the muscle motor unit and the nervous system.

In the second half of the chapter, we turn our attention to the tendon, looking at the microstructure, function and biochemical composition. The major constituents of the tendon and the cellular component are described.