Smooth Muscle:

• Contractile function is to mix and propel contents

• Contraction is involuntary
• Orientation of smooth muscle cells (SMC) mediates function
• Light Microscopy of SMC:
○ Small (diameter of 5 micrometers and lengths of 20 micrometers)
○ Single, central nucleus
○ Fusiform in shape
 Longitudinally-oriented layers of SMCs are arranged in staggered
fashion
○ In cross section—SMC’s exhibit a variety of cell diameters
 Nucleus may or may not be present
• Electron Microscopy of SMC’s in longitudinal section:
○ Profuse collection of mitochondrial located adjacent to the nucleus
○ Dense bodies which contain alpha actinin and function similar to Z-
lines in striated muscle
 Profuse in sarcoplasm
 Some are aligned along sarcolemma
○ Basal lamina invests each SMC
○ Accumulation of pinocytotic vesicles
 Similar in function to t-tubules in striated muscles
○ Position of organelles in SMC is random
• Electron microscopy of SMC’s in cross section:
○ Does not include nucleus of every S<C
○ Dense bodies everywhere
 Along sarcoplasms and sarcolemma
 Connect to actin myofilament and intermediate filament
 Actin filaments interact with thick filament
○ Nexuses (gap junctions) for cell to cell communication
○ Ratio of thin:think is 12:1
• Regulation of SMC contraction:
○ Slow, sustained tonic contraction
○ Induced by mechanical, electrical, and chemical stimuli
○ Examples of chemical agents, bind to sarcolemma receptors:
 Histamine, oxytocin, norepinephrine, angiotensin-II, vasopressin,
etc.
○ End result of SMC stimulation is that CA++ increases in the sarcoplasm
 Occurs via ca++ channels and/or Ca++ release from SR
○ Ca++ binds calmodulin kinaseactivates myosin head by
phosphorylating one of its myosin light chain kinasescauses
formation of actomyosin cross-bridgescotraction
○ SMC’s act as a unit (syncytium)
  Via gap jxns and physical cell-cell attachments provided by
reticular fibers
○ Regeneration: After injury this occurs by simple mitosis