Smooth Muscle Cells

The structural units of the smooth musculature are the band-shaped or spindle-shaped muscle cells, which usually occur in bundles of different sizes. Muscle cells build strong layers, e.g., in the walls of hollow organs. They can be isolate d from these hollow organs by maceration with nitric acid. However, the long, extended cell processes of ten break off during this procedure. Dependent on their location and function in the tissue, smooth muscle cells are between 15 and 20 0 μm long. During pregnancy, uterine smooth muscle cells may reach a length of 10 0 0 μm. On aver-age, they are 5–10 μm thick . The rod-shaped nucleus is locate d in the cell center. When muscle cells contract, the nucleus sometimes coils or loops into the shape of a cork screw.

Figure: Smooth Muscle Cells

References

Kuehnel, W.(2003). Color Atlas of Cytology, Histology, and Microscopic Anatomy. 4^th edition . Institute of Anatomy Universitätzu Luebeck Luebeck, Germany . Thieme Stuttgart · New York .