Smooth Muscle

Question 1

What is smooth muscle tissue made up of?

Answer 1

Thing, elongated muscle cells (fibres)

Question 2

Describe the fibres in smooth muscle tissue

Answer 2

These fibres are pointed at their ends and each has a single, large, oval nucleus

Question 3

What does each smooth muscle cell have?

Answer 3

Each cell has many myofibrils which lie parallel to one another in the direction of the long axis of the cell

Question 4

How are the fibres in smooth muscle arranged?

Answer 4

They interlace to form sheets or layers of muscle tissue rather than bundles

Question 5

Is smooth muscle voluntary or involuntary? What does this mean?

Answer 5

Smooth muscle is involuntary tissue which means it is not controlled by the brain

Question 6

What does smooth muscle form?

Answer 6

• the muscle layers in the walls of hollow organs such as the digestive tract
• lower oesophagus
• stomach
• intestines
• walls of the bladder
• the uterus
• various ducts of glands
• walls of blood vessels