What is the key feature of striated muscle?

The key feature of striated muscle is its banded appearance, which arises from the organized arrangement of muscle fibers and the presence of sarcomeres, the structural units of muscle tissue. This banding pattern is due to the alternating light and dark bands created by the alignment of actin and myosin filaments within the muscle fibers. Striated muscle includes skeletal muscle, which is responsible for voluntary movements, and cardiac muscle, found in the heart.

While striated muscle is indeed involved in the heart, the defining feature discussed here focuses on the structural appearance rather than the location. Additionally, although striated muscle operates with some automatic functions in the heart, it is primarily under voluntary control in skeletal muscle. Thus, the defining characteristic of its banded appearance is what distinguishes striated muscle from smooth muscle, which lacks this banding and is found in the walls of organs and operates involuntarily.