Since its discovery four decades ago, the satellite cell of skeletal muscle has been implicated as the major source of myogenic cells involved in growth and repair of muscle fibres. This review not only looks at the role of the satellite cell in these processes but discusses how cells derived from other sources and tissues have recently been implicated in muscle formation and regeneration. Muscle itself also yields cells that contribute to other cell lineages although it is currently debated as to whether these cells originate within muscle or have migrated there from other tissues. The reality of using cells from muscle or other tissues to repair diseased muscle fibres is also addressed.