Question

State three characteristics of smooth muscles.

Answer 1

Smooth muscle

1. Smooth muscle is a type of non-striated muscle that is found in the walls of hollow organs and blood vessels.
2. Smooth muscle can be found throughout the body but is most common around the digestive tract, in the walls of blood vessels, arteries, and around other organs such as the eyes.

Characteristics of smooth muscles:

1. These are non-striated, involuntary muscles controlled by the Autonomous Nervous System.
2. It stimulates the contractility of the digestive, urinary, reproductive systems, blood vessels, and airways.
3. The actin and myosin filaments are very thin and arranged randomly, hence no striations.
4. The cells are spindle-shaped with a single nucleus.