Which muscles are striated muscle

Muscle is a soft tissue that is highly specialized for the production of tension which results in the generation of force. Muscle cells, or myocytes, contain myofibrils comprised of actin and myosin myofilaments which slide past each other producing tension that changes the shape of the myocyte.

Numerous myocytes make up muscle tissue and the controlled production of tension in these cells can generate significant force. Muscle tissue can be classified functionally, voluntary or involuntary and morphologically striated or non-striated. Voluntary refers to whether the muscle is under conscious control, striation refers to the presence of visible banding within myocytes which occurs due to organization of myofibrils to produce a constant direction of tension.

By applying the above classifications it is possible to describe three forms of muscle tissue which perform the wide range of functions described. Skeletal muscle mainly attaches to the skeletal system via tendons to maintain posture and control movement for example contraction of the biceps muscle, attached to the scapula and radius, will raise the forearm.

Some skeletal muscle can attach directly to other muscles or the skin, as seen in the face where numerous muscles control facial expression.

Skeletal muscle is under voluntary control, although this can be subconscious for example when maintaining posture or balance. Morphologically skeletal myocytes are elongated and tubular and appear striated with multiple peripheral nuclei.

Cardiac muscle tissue is found only in the heart where cardiac contractions pump blood throughout the body and maintain blood pressure. As with skeletal muscle cardiac muscle is striated, however it is not consciously controlled and so is involuntary. Cardiac muscle can be further differentiated from skeletal muscle by the presence of intercalated discs which control the synchronized contraction of cardiac tissues.

Cardiac myocytes are shorter than skeletal equivalents and contain only one or two centrally located nuclei. Smooth muscle tissue is found associated with numerous other organs and tissue systems such as the digestive system or respiratory system. It plays an important role in the regulation of flow in such tissues for example aiding the movement of food through the digestive system via peristalsis. In the body, there are three types of muscle : skeletal striated , smooth, and cardiac.

Skeletal muscle , attached to bones, is responsible for skeletal movements. The peripheral portion of the central nervous system CNS controls the skeletal muscles. Thus, these muscles are under conscious, or voluntary, control. The basic unit is the muscle fiber with many nuclei. These muscle fibers are striated having transverse streaks and each acts independently of neighboring muscle fibers.

Smooth muscle , found in the walls of the hollow internal organs such as blood vessels, the gastrointestinal tract , bladder , and uterus , is under control of the autonomic nervous system.

Smooth muscle cannot be controlled consciously and thus acts involuntarily.