striated muscle (striped muscle, skeletal muscle, voluntary muscle) Muscle that is composed of large, elongated cells (muscle fibres), each with many nuclei, in which the cytoplasm is marked by fine lines (striations) at right angles to the long axis. The striations occur because the cytoplasm contains many myofibrils, each of which is made from alternating bands of different material, and the myofibrils lie side by side with the bands aligned. Striated muscles are capable of rapid contraction and are particularly associated with voluntary movements of the skeleton.

striated muscle (stry-ayt-id) n. a tissue that comprises the bulk of the body's musculature. It is also known as skeletal muscle, because it is attached to the skeleton and is responsible for the movement of bones, and voluntary muscle, because it is under voluntary control.

striated muscle See voluntary muscle.