Which statement about voluntary (skeletal) muscles is NOT true?

Which statement about voluntary (skeletal) muscles is NOT true?

• A. They are consciously controlled
• B. They attach to bones with tendons
• C. They cause movement
• D. They are smooth muscles

Answer: (D)

Voluntary skeletal muscles are the muscles we can control to move our body. They attach to bones by tendons, and when they contract they pull on those bones to produce movement. They are also striated in appearance, a clue to their structure and powerful, quick contractions. The statement that is not true describes skeletal muscles as smooth muscles. Smooth muscles, by contrast, are involuntary and found in the walls of hollow organs and blood vessels; they don’t attach to bones and aren’t used to move the skeleton. So labeling skeletal muscles as smooth is incorrect. The other points fit skeletal muscles: they are consciously controlled, they attach to bones with tendons, and they cause movement by contracting.

Voluntary skeletal muscles are the muscles we can control to move our body. They attach to bones by tendons, and when they contract they pull on those bones to produce movement. They are also striated in appearance, a clue to their structure and powerful, quick contractions.

The statement that is not true describes skeletal muscles as smooth muscles. Smooth muscles, by contrast, are involuntary and found in the walls of hollow organs and blood vessels; they don’t attach to bones and aren’t used to move the skeleton. So labeling skeletal muscles as smooth is incorrect.

The other points fit skeletal muscles: they are consciously controlled, they attach to bones with tendons, and they cause movement by contracting.