Striated, unstriated (smooth), and cardiac muscles differ in structure and location. Striated muscles, also known as skeletal muscles, are long, cylindrical, and multinucleated, with visible striations due to the arrangement of protein filaments. They are located in the limbs, neck, and other body parts, providing voluntary control for movement. Unstriated muscles, or smooth muscles, are spindle-shaped and uninucleated, lacking striations. They are found in the walls of hollow organs like the stomach, intestines, and blood vessels, and are responsible for involuntary movements like peristalsis and blood flow regulation. Cardiac muscle, found only in the heart, is also striated but has branched, uninucleated cells connected by intercalated discs, allowing for coordinated, rhythmic contractions.
Striated (Skeletal) Muscles:
Structure: Long, cylindrical, multinucleated fibers with visible striations.
Location: Attached to bones, limbs, face, neck, tongue, pharynx, and the upper part of the esophagus.
Function: Voluntary control of body movements.
Unstriated (Smooth) Muscles:
Structure: Spindle-shaped, uninucleated fibers, lacking striations.
Location: Walls of hollow organs (stomach, intestines, bladder), blood vessels, and other internal organs.
Function: Involuntary movements like peristalsis, blood pressure regulation, and pupil dilation.
Cardiac Muscles:
Structure: Branched, uninucleated cells with intercalated discs, showing striations.
Location: Only in the heart.
Function: Rhythmic, involuntary contractions for pumping blood.