MUSCLE AND NEURAL TISSUE MUSCLE TISSUES GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS

MUSCLE AND NEURAL TISSUE

MUSCLE TISSUES – GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS 1. Composed of many cells 2. Well-vascularized 3. Muscle cells are elongated. Muscle cell = muscle fiber 4. Muscle fibers are contractile – they change their shape to cause their attachments to move 5. Three different type = skeletal, smooth and cardiac

SKELETAL MUSCLE u. Most abundant muscle tissue u. Location - Muscle that is attached to bones of the skeleton u. Function -They contract, causing body movements u. Structure – long thin cells, with many nuclei, striated (banded) appearance u. Control - Voluntary control (brain tells muscle to move)

Nuclei Striations

SMOOTH MUSCLE u. Structure - Spindle-shaped cells with one centrally located nucleus, No visible striations u. Location - Found in the walls of hollow organs other than the heart (digestive and urinary tract organs, uterus, blood vessels) u. Control - Involuntary u. Function – moving food thru digestive tract (peristalsis), expelling urine, constricting blood vessels

Nuclei

CARDIAC MUSCLE u. Location - Only found in the wall of the heart u. Function - Contracts to propel blood throughout the body u. Structure – Mono-nucleated, Intercalated discs – specialized gap junction, Striated or banded appearance u. Control - Involuntary (unconscious control)

NEURAL TISSUE u. Neural tissue is the main component of the nervous system u. Located in the brain, spinal cord and nerves u. Neurons = highly specialized cells that generate and conduct nerve impulses u. Transmit electrochemical signals to and from the brain