Introduction

 Connective tissues are derived from mesenchyme (cells of

mesoderm).
 Mesenchyme is typically a loose spongy tissue, which in early
embryonic life is found as packing between structures
developing from other germ layers.
 It is composed of stellate (resembling star or stellate) and fusiform cells
forming a network and
 of an amorphous intercellular substance containing a few scattered
fibers
 Mesenchymal cells have multiple developmental
potentialities.
 They are able to differentiate along several different lines to
produce many different kinds of connective tissue cells.
 Connective tissues differ from epithelium by the presence of
abundant intercellular material or matrix.

General Features of Connective Tissue

 In any type of connective tissue there are two basic parts:
 Cells and Matrix
 Matrix – material between widely spaced cells
 Consists of protein fibers and ground substance
 Thread like formed elements called fibers
 Ground substance – material between cells and fibers
secreted by the cells and determine the tissue qualities.
 Connective tissue has a nerve supply (except cartilage)
 Highly Vascular (except cartilage and tendons).
Functions of connective tissues

 Binds together, supports and strengthens other body tissues

 Protects and insulates internal organs
 Compartmentalizes structures such as skeletal muscle
 The major transport system within the body
 Site of stored energy reserves
 Main site of immune responses
Connective Tissue Cells
 Fibroblasts:-large flat cells with branching processes.
 Migrate throughout connective tissue
 secreting the fibers and ground substance
 Histiocytes/Macrophages: - develop from white blood cells.
Surround and engulf material by phagocytosis
 Mast Cells: - alongside blood vessels that supply connective
tissue.
 Produce histamine a chemical that dilates blood vessels.
 Adipocytes: - ―fat cells‖ store triglycerides.
 Plasma cells:- cells that synthesize and secrete antibodies
1. Fibroblasts
 Most abundant forms of connective tissue cells.
 Large, flattened cells with branched cytoplasm surrounding an
elliptical nuclei that contain one or two nucleoli.
 The cell body is irregular and often appears stellate with long
cytoplasm processes extending along the connective tissue fiber.
 The boundaries of the cell are not seen in most histological
preparations, and the morphology varies with the state of activity.
 Produce connective tissue fibers & secrete ground substance.
 Together, this extracellular matrix and collagen form the
structural framework of tissues in animals and plays an
important role in tissue repair
2. Histiocytes (Macrophages)
 Are almost abundant as fibroblasts in connective tissue.
 They are actively phagocytic, ingesting a variety of materials
like bacteria, tissue debris, and whole blood cells.
 Macrophages may interact with lymphocytes in combating
infections.
 This group of cells includes the most cells and tissue
macrophages as well as all types of white blood cells.
 Macrophages derive from bone marrow precursor cells that
divide, producing monocytes which circulate in the blood
 The macrophage-like cells have been given different names in
different organs, e.g, Kupffer cells in the liver, microglial cells
in the central nervous system, Langerhans cells in the skin, and
osteoclasts in bone tissue.
 The transformation from monocytes to macrophages in
connective tissue involves increases in cell size, increased
protein synthesis, and increases in the number of
Golgi complexes and lysosomes.
 They are Scavenger cells, Foreign body giant cells and Antigen
presenting cells
3. Fat cells (adipocytes)
 Cells responsible for the storage and metabolism of fat are
known as adipocytes and may collectively form adipose tissue.
 Each fat cell acquires so many lipids that the nucleus is
flattened to one side of the cell and the cytoplasm forms only a
thin rim around a large droplet of lipid.
 In ordinary sections, fat cells appear empty due to the loss of
lipid during tissue preparation, and groups of fat cells have the
appearance of chicken wire.
 Stored fat with in adipocytes is derived from three
main sources:
 dietary fat circulating in the blood stream as
chylomicrons;
 triglycerides synthesized in the liver and transported in
blood and
 Triglycerides synthesized from glucose within
adipocytes.

4. Generally
Plasma cells
rare but numerous at certain sites e.g., intestinal
mucosa, lymphoid organs
 Nucleus—cart wheel appearance
 Production of antibodies
 Plasma cells produce immunoglobulins (antibodies) that
form an important defense against infections.
5. Mast cells Mast cells are large, oval or round connective
tissue cells, 20–30 µm in diameter, whose cytoplasm is filled
with basophilic secretory granules.
 The small, spherical nucleus is centrally situated & may be
obscured by the cytoplasmic granules.
 Secrete Heparin (anticoagulant) and Histamine (vasodilator)
 Heparin is a potent anticoagulant which prevent the
coagulations of blood;
 Histamine is an agent that causes vasodilation and increased
permeability of capillaries and venules and eosinophil
chemotactic factor.
Connective Tissue Matrix
A. Ground Substance Ground Substance: - component of a
connective tissue between the cells and fibers, supports cells, binds
them together, and provides a medium through which substances
are exchanged. Eg: Mixture of
1. glycoproteins: fibronectin (dermis), chondronectin (cartilage) &
2. proteoglcans (glycosaminoglycans)-hyaluronic acid

B. Fibers Strengthens and supports connective tissue.

1. Collagen Fibers
 Strong, resist pulling forces, flexible
 Made of the protein collagen which is the most abundant protein in the
body
 Diameter (2-10 micrometer)
 Run randomly in various directions
 In many parts, collagen fibers lie parallel to each other forming
bundles of various sizes
 Flexible but inelastic (non-extensible)
 Pink colour with H&E stain At least 19 different types of
collagen have now been delineated on the basis of morphology,
amino acid composition and physical properties.
Type I collagen: is found in fibrous connective tissue, the dermis
of the skin, ligaments and bones, in a variable arrangement form
loose to dense according to the mechanical support required.
 Type II collagen: is found in hyaline cartilage and consists of
fine fibrils which are dispersed in the ground substance.
 Type III collagen: makes up the fiber type known as reticulin
which was previously thought a separate fiber type because of
its affinity for silver salts.
 Reticulin fibers form the delicate branched “reticular”
supporting meshwork in highly cellular tissues such as the
liver, bone marrow and lymphoid organs.
 Type V collagen: forms anchoring fibrils that link to basement
membrane, the remaining types of collagen are present in
various specialized situations.
2. Elastic fibers (elastin)
 Elastic fibers appear as thin, homogenous strands that are
similar and more uniform size than collagen fibers.
 They cannot be distinguished in routine sections and
require special stains to make them visible. smaller in
diameter than collagen fibers, branch to form network
 Made of the protein elastin
 Highly elastic can stretch one and half time their original
length
 Diameter (0.2 to 1.0 mic.m)
 Branch & rejoin to form loose network.
 Elastin is present in large amounts in tissues such as lung, skin,
urinary bladder and wall of blood vessels.
3. Reticular Fibers
 Reticular fibers provide a supporting framework for the
cellular constituents of various tissues and organs.
 Provide support for the walls of blood vessels
 Made of collagen with a glycoprotein covering.
 Reticular fibers are named for their arrangement in a
mesh-like pattern or network.
 Very thin branching fibers
 Diameter (0.5 to 2 micrometer)
 Abundant in connective tissue around muscle fibers, nerve
fibers, acini of glands, lymphoid organs & bone marrow
Types of Connective Tissue
 There are three types of connective tissue that vary by the
fibers, ground substance and cells contained in it.
 Each type has a very specific structure and function.
Connective
 Is a type of connective Tissue proper
tissue characterized by different fiber
arrangements or morphologies. It can be:
1. Loose connective tissue: Is a type of CT where Fibers are
loosely intertwined among many cells.
 There are three types of loose connective tissue
A. Areolar Connective Tissue: One of the most widely
distributed connective tissues in the body.
Areolar Connective Tissue
 It contains collagen fibers and a few elastic fibers
embedded in a thin, fluid-like ground substance.
 This kind of tissue forms the fascia that binds organs and
organ components together and Helps to form the
subcutaneous layer.
 It forms helices about the long axes of expandable tubular
structures such as
 the ducts of glands,
 the gastrointestinal tract, and
 blood vessels
B. Adipose Tissue
 The cells, called adipocytes, are specialized for storage of
triglycerides.
 Adipocytes fill up with a large fat droplet so the nucleus gets
pushed to one side of the cell.
 Reticular and collagenous fibers also extend around each fat
cell to provide a delicate supporting framework that contains
numerous capillaries.
 Used for insulation, protection and as an energy reserve.
 In addition to performing insulating and mechanical functions,
adipose tissue plays and important role in the metabolism of
the organism.
C. Reticular Connective Tissue
 It is made of interlacing reticular fibers and reticular cells that
connect to each other to form a network.
 Reticular connective tissue is characterized by a cellular
framework as in lymphatic tissues and bone marrow.
 Reticular cells are stellate, with processes extending along the
reticular fibers to make contact with neighboring cells.
 Reticular CT is used to bind together smooth muscle cells and
to filter out worn out blood cells and bacteria.
2. Dense Connective Tissue

 It contains more numerous, thicker and denser fibers but fewer

cells than loose connective tissue.
 Dense connective tissue differs from loose connective tissue
chiefly
 In the high concentration of fibers and
 Reduction of the cellular and amorphous ground substance.
 There are three types of dense CT:
◦ Dense regular connective tissue
◦ Dense Irregular connective tissue
◦ Elastic Connective Tissue
Dense Regular Connective Tissue
 It contains a predominance of collagen fibers arranged in bundles,
but these have a regular, precise arrangement.
 The organization of the collagen bundles reflects the mechanical
needs of tissue.
 Bundles of collagen fibers are arranged regularly in parallel patterns
that give it strength.
 Withstands pulling from the ends, but unravels when pulled from the
side
 Silvery white in appearance.
 Tough and pliable/elastic or flexiable.
 Dense regular connective tissue occurs in two varieties,
 As collagen tendon and ligament and
 As elastic ligaments.
 In both types, the fibers are arranged in the same plane and
direction, according to specific functional requirements.
 Collagen tendons and ligaments: the great tensile strength of
collagen tendons and ligaments is reflected in their structure.
 Elastic ligaments: branching and interconnected parallel
elastic fibers surrounded by loose connective tissue make up
elastic ligament. e.g ligamentum nuchae and elastic facial of
the abdominal musculature of herbivores.
Dense Irregular Connective Tissue

 Collagen fibers are packed closely together in an irregular,

random pattern
 It contains abundant, thick, collagenous bundles that are woven
into a compact network.
 Found in parts of the body where pulling forces are exerted in
various directions
 Usually found in sheets
 Dense irregular connective tissue is found in a variety
of locations, such as
 The propria of the initial portions of the digestive
system,
 The visceral pleura of the lung,
 The capsule of the various organs (spleen, liver, kidney,
testis), fasciae, aponeuroses, joint capsules,
pericardium, and dermis of the skin.
Elastic Connective Tissue

 Contains branching elastic fibers and fibroblasts

 Yellowish in color
 Strong, can regain shape after stretching
 Found in lungs and arteries
2. Fluid connective tissues
 Contains distinctive collections of cells in a fluid matrix
 Blood Is defined as a special connective tissue, in which the
extracellular substance is a fluid.
 Blood is a fluid tissue that circulates through vascular channels
to carry nutrients to the cells and waste products to the
excretory organs.
 Composed of formed elements/blood cells/ and plasma.
 Blood cells are:
 Red blood cells (erythrocytes): transport oxygen
 White blood cells (leukocyte): function in
immunity or body defense system.
 Platelets (thrombocytes): participate in blood
clotting
 The leukocytes in the blood of most vertebrates are five types;
 neutrophils,
 lymphocytes,
 monocytes,
 Eosinophils, and
 Basophils.
 The blood plasma contains 91.92 % water and 8- 9%
solutes (e.g. proteins, lipids, electrolytes).
Blood is important
 in the transport of materials throughout the body,
 Transport functions include carriage of oxygen to all
cells of the body, transport of nutrients, and removal of
waste products of cell metabolism
 Maintaining the acid base balance, and providing defense
mechanisms.
 Blood aids in regulating body temperature by dissipating
heal-formed during metabolism and
 Distributes hormones, thus integrating the functions of the
endocrine system.
 Through its buffering capacities blood helps maintain
the acid-base balance and ensures and environment in
which cells may function normally.
 3. Supporting connective tissues
Bone
 Bone is a connective tissue specialized for support.
 It is composed of cells and predominantly collagenous extracellular
matrix called osteoid.
 The matrix in the bone is mineralized and forms a dense and hard
substance with high tensile, weight bearing, and compression strength.
Structure
 Grossly, cancellous and compact forms of bone can be identified
 Cancellous (spongy) bone consists of irregular bars or trabeculae
of bone that branch and unite to form an interlacing network of
bony rods, delimiting a vast system of small communicating
spaces that in life are filled with bone marrow.
 Compact (dense) bone appears as a solid, continuous mass in
which spaces cannot be seen with the naked eye.
 The two types of bone are not sharply delimited and merge into
one another.
 Except the articular surfaces and where tendons and ligaments
insert, bone is covered by fibroblastic connective tissue called
periosteum.
 The marrow cavity of the diaphysis (shaft) and the spaces with in
spongy bone are lined by
endosteum.
 Cells of bone
 Osteoblasts: are bone-forming cells, which synthesize osteoid
and mediate its mineralization.
 They are found lined up along bone surfaces
Osteocytes: are the chief cells found in mature bone and take the
shape of the lacunae in which they are housed; they may assist in
nutrition of bone.
 Osteocytes: are also responsible for maintaining bone.
 Plays an active role in regulating calcium concentration in the
body fluids, and is implicated in the resorption of bone.
 Osteoclasts: are phagocytic cells which are capable of eroding
bone and which are important, along with osteoblasts, in the
constant turn over and refashioning of bone.
 They are large, multinucleated gaint cells.
 Osteoclasts are derived from the macrophage monocyte cell
line.
 Bone matrix forms the bulk of bone and consists of
collagen, ground substance, and inorganic components.
 Collagen fiber makes up over 90% of the organic
component.
 The non-collagen organic material includes osteoclacin,
involved in binding calcium salts during mineralisation
process, osteonectin that may serve in binding bone cells
to the matrix.
 The inorganic component is responsible for the rigidity
of bone and consists of calcium phosphate and carbonate
with small amounts of calcium and magnesium fluoride.
Functions of Bone
Bone forms
 The principal tissue of support and is capable of bearing great
weight.
 It provides attachment for muscles of locomotion, carries the
joints, serves as a covering to protect vital organs, and houses
the hemopoietic tissue.
 Bone is the major store house of calcium and phosphorous in
the body.
Cartilage
 Cartilage is a semi-rigid form of supporting tissue.
 It contains the usual elements of connective tissue;
 cells,
 fibers and
 Ground substances.
 The ground substance gives the cartilage its firm
consistency and ability to withstand compression force.
 Collagen and elastic fibers embedded in the ground
substance import tensile strength and elasticity
respectively.
 The fibers and ground substance form the matrix.
 Can withstand more stress than the dense and loose connective
tissue.
 Collagen fibers make the tissue strong, chondroitin sulfate
makes it resilient
 Cartilage differs from other connective tissues in that it lacks
 nerves,
 a blood supply, and
 Lymphatic is nourished by diffusion of material from blood
vessels in adjacent tissues.
 Based on differences in the abundance and type of fibers in the
matrix; cartilage is classified into hyaline, elastic and fibrous
cartilage.
 Chondrocytes – mature cartilage cells
1. Hyaline cartilage
 Gel like ground substance, collagen fibers (not visible with
normal stains) and prominent chondrocytes
 Most abundant cartilage in the body
 Found at the end of long bones to cushion joints and at
epiphyseal plates (growth plates in bones)
 Weakest of the 3 types of cartilage Hyaline cartilage is the
most common type that forms
 The costal cartilages, articular cartilage of joints and cartilage
of the nose, larynx, trachea, bronchi and the sternal ends of the
ribs.
 It is also present in the growing ends of long bones.
 In the fetus, most of the skeleton is first laid down as hyaline
cartilage.
 The collagen in hyaline cartilage rarely forms bundles but is
present as a network of slender fibrils.
 Collagen in cartilage appears to be less polymerized than in
other tissues and only type II collagen is present.
2. Elastic cartilage
 Elastic cartilage contains branched elastic fibers in the
matrix.
 Type II collagen fibers are present.
 Deep in the cartilage, elastic fibers form a dense, closely
packed mesh that obscures the ground substance.
 The chondrocytes are similar to those of hyaline cartilage.
Elastic cartilage is more flexible than hyaline cartilage and
is found in the
 External ear, auditory tube, epiglottis, and smaller
laryngeal cartilages.
3. Fibrocartilage
 Fibrous cartilage represents a transition between dense
connective tissue and cartilage.
 It consists of alternating layers of hyaline cartilage matrix and
thick layers of dense collagen fibers oriented in the direction of
the functional stresses.
 The chondrocytes lie singly, in pairs or in short rows between
bundles of dense collagen fibers.
 Chondrocytes scattered among visible bundles of collagen
fibers
 It has no perichondrium and Strongest of the 3 types of
cartilage.
 It is found in the intervertebral discs, some articular cartilages,
 in association with dense collagenous tissue in joint
capsules, ligaments and the connections of some
tendons to bone.

MUSCLE TISSUE
 Muscle is the basic tissue in which the property of contractility
is preeminent.
 The unit of structure of muscle is the muscle
cells, which because of its elongated shape also called a fiber.
 Functionally the shape of the cell is important because of a
greater uni-dimensional contraction can be achieved by an
elongated cell than by a globular cell of the same volume,
 with in a muscle mass, the fibers are oriented in the direction of
movement.
Functions of Muscular Tissue
Producing Body Movements
• Walking and running
Stabilizing Body Positions
• Posture
Moving Substances Within the Body
• Heart muscle pumping blood
• Moving substances in the digestive tract
Generating heat
• Contracting muscle produces heat
• Shivering increases heat production
Properties of Muscular Tissue
 Properties that enable muscle to function and contribute to
homeostasis
 Excitability Ability to respond to stimuli
 Contractility Ability to contract forcefully when stimulated
 Extensibility Ability to stretch without being damaged
 Elasticity Ability to return to an original length
Classification of Muscle Cells
 Muscle cells can be divided in to three types
 Skeletal - found attached to bone, striated, voluntary
 Cardiac - forms the walls of heart, striated, involuntary
 Smooth - found in viscera, non-striated, involuntary
Skeletal Muscle Cells
 Skeletal muscle is composed of extremely elongated,
multinucleate contractile cells, often described as muscle
fibers, bound together by collagenous supporting tissue.
 Skeletal muscles are
 Striated, voluntary, and multinucleated
 are long, thin and cylindrical; they are attached to bones and
move our skeleton
 are usually called ―muscle fibers‖
 do not divide to create new cells
 new fibers are produced by stem cells
 Striations -- cross stripes (bands) run perpendicular to the
cells
 Most skeletal muscles also are controlled subconsciously to
some extent E.g: the diaphragm alternately contracts and
relaxes without conscious control.
Functions of Skeletal Muscles
Produce skeletal movement
Maintain body position
Support soft tissues
Guard body openings
Maintain body temperature
 Most skeletal muscles also are controlled subconsciously to
some extent E.g: the diaphragm alternately contracts and
relaxes without conscious control.
Functions of Skeletal Muscles
Produce skeletal movement
Maintain body position
Support soft tissues
Guard body openings
Maintain body temperature
 Nerve and Blood Supply Neurons that stimulate skeletal
muscle to contract are somatic motor neurons. Skeletal
muscle contraction is controlled by large motor nerves,
individual nerve fibers branching with in the muscle to
supply a group of muscle fibers collectively described as a
motor unit. Excitation of any one motor nerve results in
simultaneous contraction of all the muscle fibers of the
corresponding motor unit.
 Each muscle fiber is in close contact with one or more capillaries to
supply the nutrients for the muscular activity. Muscle growth occurs by
hypertrophy which is an enlargement of existing muscle fibers.
Connective Tissue Components
Fascia Dense sheet or broad band of irregular connective tissue that
surrounds muscles The individual muscle fibers are grouped together
into elongated bundles called fasciculi with delicate supporting tissue
called endomysium occupying the spaces between individual muscle
fibers. Each fascicle is surrounded by loose collagens tissue called
perimysium.
 Most muscles are made up of many fasciculi and the whole muscle
mass is invested in a dense collagenous sheath called the epimysium.
Large blood vessels and nerves enter the epimpsium and divide to
ramify throughout the muscle in the perimysium and endomysium.
Tendon: Cord that attach a muscle to a bone. The arrangement of the
contractile proteins gives rise to the appearance of prominent
crossstriations in some histological preparations and hence the name
striated muscle is often applied to skeletal muscle. Skeletal muscle is
specialized for relatively force full contractions of short duration and
under fine voluntary control.
 Striations of Skeletal muscle tissue
Sarcolemma The plasma membrane of a muscle cell
Sarcoplasm: is the cytoplasm of a muscle fiber Sarcoplasm
includes glycogen used for synthesis of ATP and a red-
colored protein called myoglobin which binds oxygen
molecules Myoglobin releases oxygen when it is needed for
ATP production
Myofibrils Are thread like structures which have a
contractile function.
 Sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR)
Membranous sacs which encircles each myofibril
Stores calcium ions (Ca++) and Release of Ca++ triggers muscle
contraction
Filaments
Function in the contractile process
Two types of filaments (Thick and Thin)
The thick filament is myosin and the thin filament is actin
Sarcomeres
Compartments of arranged filaments
Basic functional unit of a myofibril
Z discs Thick and thin filaments overlap one another
 The Z bands are the most electron dense and divide each
myofibril in to numerous contractile units, called sarcomeres,
arranged end to end.
A band
Darker middle part of the sarcomere
Thick and thin filaments overlap
I band Lighter, contains thin filaments but no thick filaments Z
discs passes through the center of each I band
H zone
Center of each A band which contains thick but no thin
filaments
 M line
• Supporting proteins that hold the thick filaments
together in the H zone

 Muscle Proteins Myofibrils are built from three kinds
of proteins 1) Contractile proteins Generate force
during contraction 2) Regulatory proteins Switch the
contraction process on and off 3) Structural proteins
Align the thick and thin filaments properly Provide
elasticity and extensibility Link the myofibrils to the
sarcolemma
 Contractile Proteins
Myosin
Thick filaments
Functions as a motor protein which can achieve motion
Convert ATP to energy of motion
Projections of each myosin molecule protrude outward
(myosin head).
Actin Thin filaments Actin molecules provide a site where
a myosin head can attach Tropomyosin and troponin are
also part of the thin filament
 In relaxed muscle Myosin is blocked from binding to actin
Strands of tropomyosin cover the myosinbinding sites Calcium
ion binding to troponin moves tropomyosin away from myosin-
binding sites Allows muscle contraction to begin as myosin
binds to actin.
The Sliding Filament Mechanism
Myosin heads attach to and ―walk‖ along the thin filaments at
both ends of a sarcomere Progressively pulling the thin filaments
toward the center of the sarcomere Z discs come closer together
and the sarcomere shortens Leading to shortening of the entire
muscle.
 Types of Skeletal Muscle Fibers Muscle fibers vary in their
content of myoglobin
Red muscle fibers
Have a high myoglobin content
Appear darker (dark meat in chicken legs and thighs)
Contain more mitochondria
Supplied by more blood capillaries
White muscle fibers
Have a low content of myoglobin
Appear lighter (white meat in chicken breasts)
less capillaries and fewer mitochondria
 Cardiac Muscle Cells Cardiac muscle fibers are essentially long cylindrical
cells with one or at most two nuclei, centrally located with the cell. The fibers
may divide at their ends before joining to adjacent fiber and thus from a
network of branching fibers. Between the muscle fibers, delicate collagenous
tissue analogous to the endomysium of skeletal muscle supports the extremely
rich capillary network necessary to meet the high metabolic demands of strong
continuous activity. Its contractions are strong and utilize a great deal of
energy, and The contraction is continuous and initiated by inherent
mechanism, although they are modulated by external autonomic and
hormonal stimuli. Cardiac muscle provides for the continuous, rhythmic
contractility of the heart.
 Cardiac Muscle Cells
Are called ―cardiocytes‖ and found in heart walls Branching
cells connect at intercalated disks which allow contractions to
occur faster Striated, involuntary, and single or two nucleus
Intercalated discs connect the ends of cardiac muscle fibers to
one another
Allow muscle action potentials to spread from one cardiac
muscle fiber to another Cardiac muscle tissue contracts when
stimulated by its own autorhythmic muscle fibers. Contractions
last longer than a skeletal muscle twitch Have the same
arrangement of actin and myosin as skeletal muscle fibers
 Mitochondria are large and numerous than skeletal muscles.
Smooth Muscle Cells
 Smooth muscle fibers are elongated, spindleshaped
cells with tapered ends, which may occasionally be
bifurcated. Smooth muscle fibers are generally much
shorter than skeletal muscle fibers and contain only
one nucleus, which is elongated and centrally located
in the cytoplasm at the widest part of the cell.
 Smooth muscle cells are:
are small and pointed at their ends
can divide and regenerate new cells
non-striated/no striations
having single nucleus
Found in hollow organs like the intestine, bladder, lungs, uterus, and blood
vessels.
move substances through hollow opening by contracting slowly
Involuntary- neural & hormonal stimulation The contractile proteins of
smooth muscle are not arranged in myofibrils as in skeletal and cardiac muscle,
and thus visceral muscle cells are not striated and in the usual histological
preparations appear homogeneous.