Final answer:
Vascular smooth muscle cells are non-striated with a single central nucleus and capable of sustaining long-term contractions. Striated muscle cells have a banded appearance with multiple peripheral nuclei and cannot maintain contractions when stretched.
Step-by-step explanation:
A vascular smooth muscle cell differs from a striated muscle cell in several ways. Smooth muscle cells do not have striations because their actin and myosin filaments are not arranged in a regular pattern, like they are in striated muscle cells. This absence of sarcomeres gives smooth muscle its characteristic uniform appearance. Additionally, a smooth muscle cell typically has a single, centrally located nucleus, while striated muscle cells are often multinucleated and have their nuclei on the periphery. Unlike their striated counterparts, smooth muscle cells are able to sustain very long-term contractions and maintain contractile function even when stretched. They are essential components in various bodily systems, such as in the walls of arteries where they regulate blood pressure, and in the digestive, reproductive, and other systems where they facilitate the movement of materials through the body. Constriction of smooth muscle is generally under involuntary, autonomic nervous control and in response to local tissue conditions.