What type of muscle tissue is described as striated and voluntary?

Skeletal muscle is characterized as striated and voluntary, which sets it apart from other muscle types. Striated muscle fibers contain alternating light and dark bands that are visible under a microscope, giving skeletal muscle its striped appearance. This striation is a result of the arrangement of actin and myosin filaments, which are responsible for muscle contraction.

The voluntary aspect means that skeletal muscle is under conscious control, allowing a person to choose when to contract these muscles for activities such as walking, lifting, or any other movements that require deliberate action. This contrasts with cardiac and smooth muscles, which are either involuntary or not under conscious control. Cardiac muscle, while striated, functions involuntarily to pump blood throughout the body, and smooth muscle, which is not striated, is responsible for involuntary movements within organs.