What type of muscle is characterized by bands or striations?

The correct answer is Skeletal Muscle, as it is specifically characterized by the presence of striations or bands. These striations are due to the organized arrangement of actin and myosin filaments within the muscle fibers, which allows for voluntary movements and contractions. Skeletal muscle is attached to bones and facilitates locomotion and posture through voluntary control.

Cardiac muscle, while also striated, is not classified in the same category as skeletal muscle in this context because it operates involuntarily and is found only in the heart. Smooth muscle, on the other hand, lacks striations and is found in the walls of hollow organs, where it functions involuntarily to facilitate various bodily processes such as digestion and circulation. Thus, skeletal muscle is the most directly associated type with the characteristic of striations.