Difference Between Striated, Unstriated And Cardiac Muscle (Structure, Location & Diagram)

What is a Striated Muscle?

Striated muscle also referred to as skeletal muscle is a form of muscle tissue mainly found attached to the bones by bundles of collagen fibres known as tendons. This muscle is generally under the voluntary control of the somatic nervous system. It is marked by transverse dark and light bands that are made up of elongated fibres. These muscles are located in several body parts like hands, legs, tongue, pharynx etc. A striated muscle is made up of thousands of cylindrical cells that are striated. They also have numerous mitochondria and glycogen granules to produce energy.

What You Need To Know About Striated Muscle

Striated muscle is a muscle tissue marked by transverse dark and light bands that are made up of elongated fibres.
They form bundles that are attached to skeleton by ends.
They are long and cylindrical in shape with blunt ends.
They are multinucleated and bounded by distinct sarcolemma.
They are also referred to as skeletal muscle.
They have regular, parallel bundles of muscles.
They are unbranched and alternating light and dark cross bands.
The end of these cells is blunt.
They have non-rhythmic contractions.
These muscles are located in several body parts like hands, legs, tongue, pharynx etc.
They are involuntary muscles.
Oblique bridges and intercalated discs are absent.
They contract rapidly.
They have nerve supply from the central nervous system.
They have numerous mitochondria and glycogen granules.
They have abundant blood supply.

What is a Unstriated Muscle?

Unstriated muscle also referred to as smooth muscles are muscle tissue found inside organs like blood vessels, bronchi, uterus, urethra, bladder, esophagus, stomach and intestines. These muscles are generally made up of long, unbranched muscle cells that have a single nucleus. These muscles help in movements of substances through the organs. Typically, they are involuntary muscle whose contractions are controlled by the autonomic nervous system, hormones and intrinsic factors in the organ.

What You Need To Know About Non-striated Muscle

These are thin muscles that are not controlled voluntary.
They form sheets or tubes in the visceral wall.
They are long and spindle shaped with tapering ends.
They are uni-nucleated and bounded by plasma membrane only.
They are also referred to as smooth muscles.
They do not have a regular arrangement of muscle cells.
They are unbranched and lack light and dark bands.
These cells have tapering ends.
They have Rhythmic contractions.
These muscles are located in the inner linings of the organs like uterus, alimentary canal, iris of the eye and dermis of the skin etc.
They are voluntary muscles.
Oblique bridges and intercalated discs are absent.
They contract slowly.
They have nerve supply from the autonomic nervous system.
They have less number of mitochondria and glycogen granules.
Their blood supply is scanty.

What is a Cardiac Muscle?

Cardiac muscle is a specialized form of striated muscle occurring in the hearts of vertebrates. Typically these muscle cells are short and cylindrical with truncate ends. They are also highly branched. Their branches connect to each cell in regular angles. The overlapping regions of muscle cells have finger-like extensions in the cell membrane referred to as intercalated disks. The gap junctions present in the intercalated disks allow the passage of electrochemical signals among cells. Also, cardiac muscle contains a special type of cells referred to as pacemaker cells, which allows rhythmic contraction of the muscle.

What You Need To Know About Cardiac Muscle

Cardiac muscle is a specialized form of striated muscle occurring in the hearts of vertebrates.
They form a continuous network.
They are short and cylindrical with truncate ends.
They are uninucleated and bounded by plasma membrane only.
They are also referred to as myocardial muscles.
They have muscle cells that connect at branching, irregular angles.
They are branched and have faint and dark bands.
These cells have flat and wavy ends.
They have rhythmic contractions.
These muscles are located in the heart tissues.
They are involuntary muscles.
Oblique bridges and intercalated discs are present.
They contract rapidly.
They have nerve supply from the brain and autonomic nervous system.
They have numerous mitochondria and glycogen granules.
Their blood supply is abundant with deep penetrating capabilities.

Also Read: Difference Between Sensory And Motor Neuron

Difference Between Striated, Unstriated And Cardiac In Tabular Form

Striated Muscle	Unstriated Muscle	Cardiac Muscle
Striated muscle is a muscle tissue marked by transverse dark and light bands that are made up of elongated fibres.	These are thin muscles that are not controlled voluntary.	Cardiac muscle is a specialized form of striated muscle occurring in the hearts of vertebrates.
They form bundles that are attached to skeleton by ends.	They form sheets or tubes in the visceral wall.	They form a continuous network.
They are long and cylindrical in shape with blunt ends.	They are long and spindle shaped with tapering ends.	They are short and cylindrical with truncate ends.
They are multinucleated and bounded by distinct sarcolemma.	They are uni-nucleated and bounded by plasma membrane only.	They are uninucleated and bounded by plasma membrane only.
They are also referred to as skeletal muscle.	They are also referred to as smooth muscles.	They are also referred to as myocardial muscles.
They have regular, parallel bundles of muscles.	They do not have a regular arrangement of muscle cells.	They have muscle cells that connect at branching, irregular angles.
They are unbranched and alternating light and dark cross bands.	They are unbranched and lack light and dark bands.	They are branched and have faint and dark bands.
These cells have tapering ends.	These cells have tapering ends.	These cells have flat and wavy ends.
They have non-rhythmic contractions.	They have rhythmic contractions.	They have rhythmic contractions.
These muscles are located in several body parts like hands, legs, tongue, pharynx and beginning of oesophagus etc.	These muscles are located in the inner linings of the organs like uterus, alimentary canal, iris of the eye and dermis of the skin etc.	These muscles are located in the heart tissues.
They are involuntary muscles.	They are voluntary muscles.	They are involuntary muscles.
Oblique bridges and intercalated discs are absent.	Oblique bridges and intercalated discs are absent.	Oblique bridges and intercalated discs are present.
They contract rapidly.	They contract slowly.	They contract rapidly.
They have nerve supply from the central nervous system.	They have nerve supply from the autonomic nervous system.	They have nerve supply from the brain and autonomic nervous system.
They have numerous mitochondria and glycogen granules.	They have less number of mitochondria and glycogen granules.	They have numerous mitochondria and glycogen granules.
They have abundant blood supply.	Their blood supply is scanty.	Their blood supply is abundant with deep penetrating capabilities.