What type of muscle is also referred to as striated and controlled voluntarily?

Skeletal muscle is classified as striated due to its appearance under a microscope, which shows alternating light and dark bands. This striated pattern is a result of the organization of muscle fibers into myofibrils, which contain the proteins actin and myosin, responsible for muscle contraction. Unlike other muscle types, skeletal muscle is under voluntary control, meaning that individuals can consciously decide when to contract these muscles. This ability to control movement precisely makes skeletal muscle essential for activities such as walking, lifting, and facial expressions.

In contrast, cardiac muscle is also striated but functions involuntarily and is found only in the heart. It operates automatically to pump blood throughout the body. The other categories, namely involuntary muscles and non-striated muscles, refer primarily to smooth muscle, which lacks the striations seen in skeletal and cardiac muscle and is also under involuntary control. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for professionals in the field of esthetics, as the knowledge of different muscle types can affect facial and body treatments.