- Muscle cells, also known as myocytes, are specialized cells designed for contraction and force production. Skeletal Muscle Cells: These cells are long, cylindrical, and have a striated (or striped) ...

Hidden inside every organ, microscopic fibers form a scaffolding that quietly shapes how we move, think, and heal. For the first time, scientists have produced detailed maps of these fiber webs across ...

In humans, the heart is the first functional organ to develop, starting to beat by four weeks after conception. During the development, the heart grows an intricate and complex network of muscle ...

slow-twitch muscle fibers, which move more slowly but help to keep you moving longer fast-twitch muscle fibers, which help you move faster, but for shorter periods “Twitch” refers to the contraction, ...

Most fitness-minded people have probably heard of fast- and slow-twitch muscle fibers. However, the distinction can be somewhat mysterious, especially in the context of understanding how it relates to ...

When you picture different athletes—marathon runners, gymnasts, and Olympic weightlifters, for example—you likely categorize them instinctively by their height, size, and build. But the differences in ...

Does protein build muscle? The answer to this question is a resounding, ‘yes’. Muscle tissue is composed of a repeating structure of two protein filaments: myosin and actin. Myosin and actin filaments ...

All runners, according to a popular school of training thought, can be divided into two categories: slow-twitch and fast-twitch. Physiologically, this idea rests on pretty shaky ground. The old view ...

More mileage during training results in faster finish times, right? Recent research suggests that might be true for some runners—but not for everyone. Before and immediately after each training period ...