striated

(noun)

The striped appearance of certain muscle types in which myofibrils are aligned to produce a constant directional tension.

Related Terms

Examples of striated in the following topics:

  • Structure and Function of the Muscular System

    • Muscle tissue can be classified functionally as voluntary or involuntary and morphologically as striated or non-striated.
    • Morphologically skeletal myocytes are elongated and tubular and appear striated with multiple peripheral nuclei.
    • As with skeletal muscle, cardiac muscle is striated; however it is not consciously controlled and so is classified as involuntary.
    • Smooth muscle is non-striated and involuntary.

  • Skeletal Muscle Fibers

    • Skeletal muscles are composed of striated subunits called sarcomeres, which are composed of the myofilaments actin and myosin.
    • The regular organization of these sarcomeres gives skeletal and cardiac muscle their distinctive striated appearance.

  • The Cardiac Cycle

    • Cardiomyocytes are distinctive muscle cells that are striated like skeletal muscle, but pump rhythmically and involuntarily like smooth muscle; they are connected by intercalated disks exclusive to cardiac muscle .

  • Muscle Tissues and Nervous Tissues

    • Smooth muscle tissue is also called non-striated as it lacks the banded appearance of skeletal and cardiac muscle .