smooth muscle cell
Noun: * A specialized, spindle-shaped cell that constitutes the primary functional unit of smooth muscle tissue. Unlike striated muscle cells, these cells lack visible banding (striations) under a microscope and are not under voluntary control. They are responsible for slow, sustained, and involuntary contractions in the walls of internal organs and structures such as blood vessels, the digestive tract, the bladder, and the uterus.
Smooth muscle cells are the fundamental building blocks of involuntary muscle systems in the body. * The contraction of a smooth muscle cell is triggered by hormones or nerve impulses from the autonomic nervous system. * Researchers are studying how smooth muscle cells contribute to the narrowing of arteries in hypertension.
- Phenotypic switching: In pathology, smooth muscle cells can undergo a change in phenotype, often from a "contractile" state to a "synthetic" state, which is a key process in diseases like atherosclerosis.
- The migration and proliferation of dedifferentiated smooth muscle cells are central to the formation of atherosclerotic plaques.
- Smooth muscle myocyte: A more technical synonym, emphasizing its nature as a muscle cell (myocyte).
- Leiomyocyte: The medical/clinical term derived from Greek ( = smooth, = muscle, = cell).
- Non-striated muscle cell: A descriptive term highlighting the key structural difference from cardiac and skeletal muscle cells.
- Leiomyocyte
- Non-striated muscle cell
- Visceral muscle cell (when referring specifically to smooth muscle in internal organs)
- Involuntary muscle cell
- Vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC): Specifically refers to smooth muscle cells found in the walls of blood vessels.
- The tone of an artery is regulated by its vascular smooth muscle cells.
- Smooth muscle cell proliferation: The multiplication of these cells, often discussed in the context of disease.
- Smooth muscle cell contraction: The primary function of these cells.
- cells of the smooth muscles