Cardio Flashcards
T/F: smooth muscle has 1 nucleus
True
______capillaries have pores and are seen in liver/spleen/lymph/bone marrow/some endocrine glands
Sinusoidal
Where do we get the name “striated muscle”?
Highly organized arrangement of filaments within the muscle cell
(this gives a characteristic alteration of light and dark bands when viewed in longitudinal section)
Derivations of “sarco”, “myo”, and “mys” are generally used in relation to _____.
muscle
Define sarcolemma
Muscle cell membrane
Define sarcoplasm
Cytoplasm of muscle cells
Define sarcoplasmic reticulum
Highly specialized membrane system derived from the muscle endoplasmic reticulum
Why is smooth muscle referred to as involuntary?
It is regulated by the autonomic nervous system, hormones, or local physiological conditions
Where is smooth muscle found (7)?
- GI tract
- Wall of urinary tract
- Reproductive system
- Blood vessels
- Gland ducts
- Respiratory system
- Dermis
Describe the shape and the nucleus location of smooth muscle cells.
- Fusiform shape
- Single nucleus located in the thickest central portion of the cell
Describe the nucleus of a fusiform - shaped cell in longitudinal cross section when contracted vs. relaxed?
Contracted: cork screw appearance
Relaxed: round
Describe the histological appearance of multiple smooth muscle cells in cross section.
- Packed with the narrow part of one cell lying adjacent to the thick (nucleus - containing) portion of another cell.
- In cross-section we see a range of diameters, the thickest having a nucleus in the center
Which organelles are present adjacent to each pole of a smooth muscle cell nucleus?
- Polyribosomes
- RER
- Golgi
- Mitochondria
Do smooth muscle cells contain T tubules?
No
Describe the sarcoplasmic reticulum of smooth muscle cells (3).
- Continuous w/RER
- Rudimentary and scattered throughout the sarcoplasm
- Contains Calcium binding proteins (Calsequestrin)
Define caveolae.
Structures involved in calcium sequestration
(near cell surface & look like pinocytotic vesicles)
Why is smooth muscle “smooth” and not “striated”?
Myofilaments are NOT arranged in an organized manner, as striated muscle is.
What are the three types of filaments found in smooth muscle sarcoplasm?
- Thin filaments
- Intermediate filaments
- Thick elements
What are thin filaments of smooth muscle cells coposed of?
Actin and tropomyosin (NO TROPONIN)
What are intermediate filaments of smooth muscle sarcoplasm composed of?
Desmin
What are thick filaments of smooth muscle sarcoplasm composed of?
Myosin
What is unique about the arrangement of thick and thin filaments in smooth muscle?
- *Thick filament**: myosin heads all along the length of the filaments
- *Thin filaments:** longer & 3 xs more than skeletal m.
(casual intermingled association between filaments, not as structured as skeletal m.)
Where do the thin and intermediate filaments insert?
- dense bodies
- dense plaques
Define dense bodies
- Small, poorly defined densities in the cytoplasm
- Possess Alpha actin and other proteins
Define dense plaques
- Similar to dense bodies. Uniform Arrangement on inner surface of sarcolemma
- Composed of actin, vinculin, talin & other proteins
Which two structures of the extracellular components help to transmit & coordinate force of contraction by smooth muscle cells?
Basal lamina
Reticular fibers
Identify:
- Black dots
- Dashed lines
- Fine black lines
- Blue lines
- Black dots = plaques and dense bodies
- Dashed lines = thick and thin filaments (blue & black lines)
- Black lines = Thin filaments
- Blue lines = Thick filaments
List the components of the endocardium (6)
- Endothelium
- Subendothelial connective tissue
- Collagen
- Elastic fibers
- Occasional smooth muscle cells
6.
The endocardium is continuous with _____.
Tunica intima of vessels entering the heart
(consists of elastic fibers, collagen, endothlial cells, subendothelial CT & smooth m.)
Describe The myocardium
- Thickest tunic
- Cardiac muscle arranged in layered, spiral pattern around the heart chambers
Describe the epicardium
- Covered by simple squamous epithelium (mesothelium) & Loose CT (under mesothelium)
- adipose cells and coronary vessels are seen in this layer
How are cardiac myocytes different from skeletal muscle fibers?
- long and branched
- One centrally located nucleus (sometimes 2)
- Lipofuscin granules (in older cells)
How does the t tubule system of atrial myocytes differ from ventricular myocytes?
atria has smaller and poorly developed T tubules system
Cardiac myocytes undergo 60 contractions per minute on average. How does it meet the energy demands for this?
- mitochodria: immediately adjacent to the sarcolemma, wedged between myofibrils and perinuclear space
- Lipid droplets store triglycerides used by mitochondria
(mitochondria make up to 40% of the sarcoplasm compared to 2% and skeletal m.)
How do the T tubules systems differ between skeletal m. & cardiac m.?
In cardiac myocytes:
- T tubules of cardiac myocytes or larger in diameter
- Sarcoplasmic reticulum is less expensive
- diads instead of triads
What are the three important specializations of intercalated discs?
- fascia adherens
- desmosomes (macula adherens)
- gap (nexus) jxns
(yellow arrows in photo)
What is the function and location of fascia adherens?
Function: Attachment site for actin filaments of the terminal sarcomeres
Location: transverse portion of disc (accounts for density of disc; similar to z-disc)
What is the function, location, and composition of desmosomes (macula adherens)?
- *Location**: transverse portion of disc
- *Function**: holding myocyte ends together
- *Composition**: intermediate filament proteins
What is the location and function of gap (nexus) junctions?
- *Location**: lateral portion of intercalated discs
- *Function**: contains connexons (connection channels between myocytes) which allow passage of molecules (1,500 Da)
What is one of the most important factors that allows a wave of contraction to spread throughout the heart wall?
The ability of ions to freely pass through Gap Junctions
What components comprise the fibrous skeleton of the heart? Where are they found?
- Dense irregular collagenous connective tissue with collagen bundles.
- Basis of aorta, pulmonary artery, atrioventricular orifices (annuli fibrosi), aortic valve cusps (trigonum fibrosum), upper atrioventricular septum (septum membranaceum)
fibrous skeleton functions
- Structural support
- Attachment for cardiac muscle
- Structural discontinuity between atria and ventricles (prevents simultaneous contraction)
Constituents of cardiac valves
- Core of fibrous connective tissue
- Endothelial covering
Inflamed cardiac valves can lead to _____ (3).
- Blood regurgitation
- Volume overload
- Heart failure