Smooth muscle

Smooth muscle.

• Note thin fibers, with diameter not much greater than that of the nucleus (about 5 µm). 
• Each fiber is an individual cell, with length ranging from 20 to half a millimeter (depending on location in the body).
• Individual fibers are often not readily distinguishable (unlike skeletal muscle, where individual fibers are huge and distinct).
• Nuclei are normally long and cigar-shaped (they may appear wiggly in contracted muscle).

Compare and contrast three types of muscle.  Click on an image below for a wider view.

Smooth Muscle more about smooth muscle	Cardiac Muscle more about cardiac muscle	Skeletal muscle more about skeletal muscle

Comments and questions: dgking@siu.edu

SIUC / School of Medicine / Anatomy / David King

http://www.siumed.edu/~dking2/ssb/NM017b.htm
Last updated:  16 December 2003 / dgk