Which of the following is not a characteristic of skeletal muscle?

Prepare for the NHI Western Segment Examination. Practice with diverse question formats, complete with hints and detailed explanations to boost confidence. Ensure your readiness for the test!

Skeletal muscle is distinguished by several key characteristics that set it apart from other types of muscle tissue. One of the defining features of skeletal muscle is that it operates under voluntary control, meaning that it is consciously controlled by the nervous system. This allows individuals to decide when to engage these muscles for activities like walking, running, or lifting objects.

Another characteristic of skeletal muscle is its striated appearance. This striation is due to the orderly arrangement of actin and myosin filaments within the muscle fibers, giving skeletal muscle a banded look under a microscope. This structural feature is crucial for the muscle's function in contraction and movement.

Skeletal muscle fibers also contain multiple nuclei. This is a result of their development from the fusion of precursor cells, allowing for more efficient regulation of the large volume of cytoplasm typically found in these muscle fibers.

In contrast, involuntary control is a feature associated with smooth and cardiac muscles, which operate without conscious control. Therefore, the assertion that involuntary control is a characteristic of skeletal muscle is incorrect, identifying it as the answer to the question.

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