Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) Practice Exam

Which muscle type is striated and voluntary?

1. Heart

2. Visceral

3. Cardiac

4. Skeletal

The correct answer is: Skeletal

The muscle type that is both striated and voluntary is skeletal muscle. Skeletal muscles are attached to bones and are primarily responsible for body movements and maintaining posture. They are characterized by a banded appearance, or striations, due to the organized arrangement of actin and myosin filaments within the muscle fibers. Skeletal muscle is unique in that it operates under voluntary control, meaning that individuals have direct control over its contraction and relaxation through the nervous system. This allows for precise movements, such as writing or playing a musical instrument. The voluntary nature of skeletal muscle is a key distinction compared to other muscle types. In contrast, cardiac muscle, found only in the heart, is striated as well, but it operates involuntarily, meaning it is not under conscious control. Visceral muscle, also known as smooth muscle, is found in the walls of hollow organs and is non-striated and involuntary. Therefore, skeletal muscle stands out as the only type that is both striated and voluntary.