[Basis of muscle contraction]

This interdisciplinary review aims at updating the knowledge on structural and functional properties of skeletal muscle tissue to the current state of art in various disciplines of basic research on muscle tissue. The mechanism of contraction as well as the excitation-contraction coupling are discussed along with recent findings on the molecular organization of muscle filaments and further constituents of the cytoskeleton. The structural conditions for oxygen and substrate metabolism prevailing in the working muscle cell are outlined and discussed with respect to the fiber type composition and recruitment of muscles during athletic activities.