Unit 4 Muscle Tissue Types

Vocabulary-style flashcards covering the histology and functions of skeletal, cardiac, and smooth muscle tissues as presented in the lecture notes.

Skeletal Muscle Histology

Characterized by long cylindrical fibers that are striated and have many peripherally located nuclei.

Skeletal Muscle Function

Responsible for voluntary movement, heat production, and the protection of organs.

Cardiac Muscle Histology

Consists of short, branched, and striated fibers with a single central nucleus.

Cardiac Muscle Function

Functions specifically to contract in order to pump blood.

Smooth Muscle Histology

Characterized by short, spindle-shaped fibers with no evident striation and a single nucleus in each fiber.

Smooth Muscle Function

Involuntary movement including moving food and secretions, involuntary control of respiration, and regulating the flow of blood in arteries by contraction.

Striated

The histological appearance of both skeletal and cardiac muscle tissue.

Spindle-shaped

The specific fiber shape identified in smooth muscle tissue.

Peripherally located nuclei

The location of nuclei in skeletal muscle fibers, which are noted for being numerous.

Single central nucleus

The nuclear arrangement found in cardiac muscle fibers.