Striated visceral muscle
Musculus visceralis striatus
Definition
Striated visceral muscles are voluntary muscles associated with visceral structures. These muscles are striated like skeletal muscle but are found in visceral organs rather than on the skeleton.
They are under voluntary control through somatic motor innervation, and they function primarily in activities such as swallowing and speech.
Example include the pharyngeal muscles, muscles of the soft palate, laryngeal muscles, and the muscles in the upper part of the oesophagus.
The striated visceral muscles develop embryologically from the branchial (pharyngeal) arches and are therefore innervated by branchial motor fibres of cranial nerves (e.g., CN IX and X). Dysfunction of striated visceral muscles may result in dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) or voice changes due to impaired laryngeal muscle function.
Feature | Striated Skeletal Muscle | Visceral Skeletal Muscle |
Location | In the subcutaneous tissue; attached to skin | In walls or associated with visceral structures (e.g., pharynx, larynx) |
Function | Moves the skin (facial expression, neck tension) | Controls movements related to swallowing, phonation, and respiration |
Attachment | Skin (not bone) | Soft tissue or visceral walls |
Innervation | Somatic motor (facial nerve, CN VII) | Branchial motor (cranial nerves IX, X, XI) |
Control | Voluntary | Voluntary (though associated with visceral structures) |
Example | Facial muscles | Pharyngeal and laryngeal muscles |
Clinical relevance | Facial nerve palsy → loss of facial movement | Vagus or glossopharyngeal lesions → dysphagia, hoarseness |
References
Gray, H. (2016) Gray’s anatomy the anatomical basis of clinical practice /. Chapter 5: Functional anatomy of the musculoskeletal system. 41st edition. Edited by S. Standring. New York: Elsevier.
Dave HD, Shook M, Varacallo MA. Anatomy, Skeletal Muscle. [Updated 2023 Aug 28]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537236/
