  Context. Observations of polarized radio emission show that large-scale
(regular) magnetic fields in spiral galaxies are not axisymmetric, but
generally stronger in interarm regions. In some nearby galaxies such as NGC
6946 they are organized in narrow magnetic arms situated between the material
spiral arms. Aims. The phenomenon of magnetic arms and their relation to the
optical spiral arms (the material arms) call for an explanation in the
framework of galactic dynamo theory. Several possibilities have been suggested
but are not completely satisfactory; here we attempt a consistent
investigation. Methods. We use a 2D mean-field dynamo model in the no-z
approximation and add injections of small-scale magnetic field, taken to result
from supernova explosions, to represent the effects of dynamo action on smaller
scales. This injection of small scale field is situated along the spiral arms,
where star-formation mostly occurs. Results. A straightforward explanation of
magnetic arms as a result of modulation of the dynamo mechanism by material
arms struggles to produce pronounced magnetic arms, at least with realistic
parameters, without introducing new effects such as a time lag between Coriolis
force and {\alpha}-effect. In contrast, by taking into account explicitly the
small-scale magnetic field that is injected into the arms by the action of the
star forming regions that are concentrated there, we can obtain dynamo models
with magnetic structures of various forms that can be compared with magnetic
arms. (abbrev). Conclusions. We conclude that magnetic arms can be considered
as coherent magnetic structures generated by large-scale dynamo action, and
associated with spatially modulated small-scale magnetic fluctuations, caused
by enhanced star formation rates within the material arms.
