Chapter 19.4, Problem 1CYP

Summary Introduction

To identify:

The three microscopic components of muscle cells that are not found in other types of cells

Introduction:

The muscle cells are also known as Myocytes. They are long, tube-shaped cells. These cells form the muscle tissue. The muscle cell is composed of myofibrils, which are made up of repeated units of sarcomeres in the sarcoplasm, along with sarcoplasmic reticulum surrounded by sarcolemma. The muscle cells are of three different types: smooth, cardiac and skeletal muscle cells.

The skeletal muscle fibers are large, striated cells with multiple nuclei. The smooth muscle cells are elongated, spindle-shaped and non-striated. The cardiac muscle cells are striated, contain one-two nuclei and are separated from intercalated disk and form an intercalating network.