How are skeletal muscles classified in terms of control?

Skeletal muscles are classified as voluntary muscles because they are under conscious control. This means that individuals can decide when to contract or relax these muscles, allowing for intentional movements such as walking, running, or lifting objects. This is in contrast to involuntary muscles, which operate without conscious control, such as the muscles in the heart and digestive organs.

Skeletal muscles are attached to bones via tendons and work in coordination with the nervous system to produce movement. When a person wants to move a limb, signals from the brain are sent to the skeletal muscles, prompting them to contract. This direct relationship between cognitive intent and muscle movement is what distinctly categorizes skeletal muscles as voluntary.

The classification does not encompass cardiac muscles, which function involuntarily, or mixed muscles since skeletal muscles do not possess the involuntary characteristics associated with cardia and smooth muscles.