Understanding Muscle Structure with Diagram Labeling

Muscles are more than just the engines behind movement—they are complex structures that perform critical roles in our bodies. For anatomy students, getting a firm grasp of the detailed structure of muscles is essential. This worksheet helps students visualize the intricate components of muscle fibers and how they work together to produce movement.

A detailed diagram shows the anatomy of muscles starting with the overall muscle structure and then going into the details about myofibrils and the sarcomere. Students match the terms in the word bank to the images in the diagram.

The diagram also shows the connective tissue found in muscles: epimysium, perimysium, and endomysium. The second page has the same images from the first page but formatted differently. Students can practice labeling or even cut them to make flashcards.

This task will probably be difficult without some background information. I usually assign this after we go over the first set of slides on the muscular system. In other words, don’t try to assign this as a stand-alone worksheet. It is best for review or reinforcement.

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Learning the Muscular System

Save time by downloading a copy of the slides I use in my classroom. The first part of the unit focuses on the structure of muscles and contains diagrams similar to the worksheet.

The anchoring phenomenon I use for this unit is a story about a child who is diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Slides also contain diagrams of muscle anatomy showing the major features, such a the fascicles, myofibrils, and myofilaments (actin and myosin.)

Give students a break from the lecture with the labeling worksheet. The terms are difficult for most high school students, so it it is helpful to reinforce those after introducing them to the class. You can also use the sarcomere coloring worksheet which has more details about microscopic structures, like the sarcoplasmic reticulum.