Which muscle tissue is striated and typically under voluntary control?

Which muscle tissue is striated and typically under voluntary control?

• A. Skeletal muscle tissue
• B. Cardiac muscle tissue
• C. Smooth muscle tissue
• D. Nervous tissue

Answer: (A)

Recognize the type of muscle tissue by both structure and control: skeletal muscle is the one that shows striations and is under voluntary control. The striations come from the highly organized arrangement of actin and myosin in repeating sarcomeres, giving that striped appearance under the microscope. Skeletal muscle is attached to bones and is consciously controlled by motor neurons in the somatic nervous system, allowing you to decide to move, lift, or posture yourself. In contrast, cardiac muscle is also striated but contracts involuntarily to heartbeat, while smooth muscle is non-striated and operates involuntarily in the walls of hollow organs. Nervous tissue isn’t muscle at all.

Recognize the type of muscle tissue by both structure and control: skeletal muscle is the one that shows striations and is under voluntary control. The striations come from the highly organized arrangement of actin and myosin in repeating sarcomeres, giving that striped appearance under the microscope. Skeletal muscle is attached to bones and is consciously controlled by motor neurons in the somatic nervous system, allowing you to decide to move, lift, or posture yourself. In contrast, cardiac muscle is also striated but contracts involuntarily to heartbeat, while smooth muscle is non-striated and operates involuntarily in the walls of hollow organs. Nervous tissue isn’t muscle at all.