Question

Differentiate between.
Singleunit and multiunit smooth muscles

Answer 1

Single-unit muscles are made of muscle fibres closely joined together by gap junctions; all fibres in a muscle contract together as a single unit. Whereas, in multi-unit muscles, fibres remain separated from each other by a basement membrane; the individual fibres of these muscles thus contract as separate units.

Single-unit muscles are innervated by an autonomous nerve and they contract all together in a coordinated rhythm. Single unit nerve fibres are myogenic whereas multi-unit fibres are neurogenic in nature.