Striated Muscles Vs. Smooth Muscles

Both striated muscles and smooth muscles are seen in the human body. While smooth muscles can be observed in the internal organs, striated muscles can be seen attached to the skeleton. The striated muscles comprise muscle fibres, composed of thin and thick filaments. On the other hand, smooth muscles possess interconnected cells for the formation of layers.

Striated Muscles

• These are muscles comprising long fibres distinguished by oblique or transverse striations, or dark and light bands organised alternatively, when viewed under a microscope
• This distinct appearance is a result of numerous sarcomeres or arrays of overlapping thin and thick filaments found in each of the muscle cells
• They are involved in the movement of skeletal muscles and are exemplified by the voluntary muscles of the vertebrates

Smooth Muscles

• These are non-striated muscles and are involuntary in nature, which shows slow rhythmic involuntary contractions
• Also referred to as involuntary muscles, they exhibit no cross striations when viewed under a microscope
• They comprise spindle-shaped narrow cells, and a centrally located single nucleus
• Most of the internal organs and major areas of the digestive tract have a lining of smooth muscles
• Spontaneously, the nervous system regulates the smooth muscles through neurotransmitters, hormones, and other receptors
• The body will not be able to perform significant functions in the absence of smooth muscles, since it is found in major parts of the body

Difference Between Striated Muscles and Smooth Muscles

Learn the main differences between Striated Muscles and Smooth Muscles.

These were some differences between Striated Muscles and Smooth Muscles. For more such articles, visit us at BYJU’S NEET.

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