What is the term for the muscle that consists of skeletal muscle and is under voluntary control?

The external urethral sphincter is the muscle that consists of skeletal muscle and is under voluntary control. This muscle surrounds the urethra and plays an essential role in the control of urination. Unlike smooth muscles, which are involuntary and controlled by the autonomic nervous system, skeletal muscles, including the external urethral sphincter, are innervated by the somatic nervous system and can be consciously activated or relaxed.

During periods of urinary retention, voluntary contraction of the external urethral sphincter prevents urine from flowing out of the bladder. This ability to consciously control the sphincter is critical for appropriate bladder function. In contrast, the other options, such as the internal urethral sphincter, are composed of smooth muscle and are not under voluntary control, instead being regulated by the autonomic nervous system. The detrusor muscle, which is responsible for bladder contraction, also consists of smooth muscle and is likewise involuntarily controlled. Pelvic floor muscles are generally a mix of skeletal and smooth muscle, but the specific context here directs attention to the voluntary component, emphasizing the external urethral sphincter’s unique role.