Is smooth muscle characterized by the presence of striations?

Smooth muscle is characterized by the absence of striations. This type of muscle tissue has a uniform appearance under a microscope, lacking the banding patterns that are seen in both skeletal and cardiac muscle, which do have striations due to the arrangement of actin and myosin filaments. Smooth muscle fibers are typically spindle-shaped and can contract more slowly and more sustainably than striated muscle, making them suited for involuntary functions such as the movement of food through the digestive tract or the regulation of blood vessel diameter. The lack of striations is a key identifying feature of smooth muscle, setting it apart from other muscle types.