The differences among striated, unstriated and cardiac muscles are as follows:

Striated muscles

1. Each muscle is long, cylindrical, non-tapering and multi- nucleate.

2. Show striations.

3. Occur in the limbs, body wall and neck.

Unstriated muscles

1. Each muscle fibre is long, flattened, spindle shaped, tapering and uninucleate.

2. Do not show striations.

3. Occur in the walls of all tubular organs such as the stomach, intestines, blood vessels, breathing passages and the urino-genital ducts.

Cardiac muscles

1. The fibres have centrally located one or two nuclei and transverse striations with light and dark bands. They are branched.

2. Show transverse striations.

3. Occur only in the walls of the heart.