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AAT Bioquest

What are types of skeletal muscle?

Posted October 26, 2023


Answer

There are two major types of skeletal muscle - red muscle and white muscle. 

  1. Red Muscles - Red muscles get their name from their red color, which is due to the high content of the red pigment, myoglobin. Red skeletal muscles have a smaller diameter and are rich in mitochondria and capillaries. The myoglobin in the red muscles take up and store oxygen, which is sent to the mitochondria to synthesize energy in the form of ATP. The capillaries are tiny blood vessels that help to deliver oxygenated blood to the muscles.   
  2. White Muscles - White muscles have a larger diameter, trace amounts of myoglobin, and fewer mitochondria.
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