specialised tissues Flashcards
smooth muscle: explain the structure, physiology and function of smooth muscle, and compare with striated muscle
1
Q
smooth muscle location
A
wall of all hollow organs (e.g. blood vessels, GIT)
2
Q
smooth muscle structure
A
no regular actin and mosin arrangement so not striated
3
Q
what controls smooth muscle
A
autonomic nervous system
4
Q
speed of smooth muscle excitation-contraction coupling
A
slower than cardiac and skeletal
5
Q
smooth muscle excitation-contraction coupling
A
depolarisation activates voltage-gated Ca2+ channels → Ca2+ influx → Ca2+ binds to calmodulin (CaM) → formation of Ca2+-CaM complex → myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) activated → MLCK phosphorylates myosin light chains (MLC20) → form cross-bridges with actin filaments → contraction (e.g. vasoconstriction)
