What happens to the appearance of the smooth muscle cell nucleus during powerful contraction?
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Correct answer: It takes on a coiled, corkscrew appearance
As the fusiform cell shortens significantly, the central nucleus is compressed and twisted. In histological sections of contracted muscle, this results in a classic corkscrew or helical morphology.
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More Smooth Muscle Histology questions
- Smooth muscle cells are surrounded by a layer equivalent to the basal lamina of other cells, called the:
- Which of the following describes the characteristic shape of a single smooth muscle cell?
- In a smooth muscle cell, where is the single, elongated nucleus typically located?
- Which structure in smooth muscle is functionally analogous to the Z-discs of striated muscle?
- What is the primary protein composition of the 'dense bodies' found in the sarcoplasm and on the sarcolemma?
- Smooth muscle lacks T-tubules. Which invaginations of the sarcolemma are thought to function similarly by sequestering calcium ions?