ABSTRACT
Autoimmune Inflammatory Myopathies .................... 224 7.5 Summary and Overall Conclusions ........................................................225 Acknowledgments .............................................................................................. 226 References ............................................................................................................. 226
7.1.1 Background on Skeletal Muscle Structure and Function
Skeletal muscles serve critical mechanical and physiological roles in the body. Their mechanical functions are to generate force and actuate movement by shortening or lengthening underload. These functions allow postural control, locomotion, and many other reflexive and volitional activities. Skeletal muscles also act in glucose uptake and disposal and participate in total body water balance and thermoregulation.
