Muscle Cell and Nerve Cell Anatomy: Key Structures and Functions

cell body of nerve cell

The cell body of a nerve cell, also known as the soma, contains the nucleus and organelles, playing a crucial role in maintaining the cell's functions and integrating signals received from the dendrites.

dendrite of nerve cell

The part of a nerve cell that receives signals from other neurons and transmits them towards the cell body.

axon of nerve cell

The long, slender projection of a nerve cell that conducts electrical impulses away from the cell body. It is essential for transmitting signals to other neurons, muscles, or glands.

connectin

z disc

thin filament

thick filament

sarcomere

m line

i band

h zone

a band

head of myosin

actin binding sites

sites allow myosin heads to physically attach to actin filaments (forming cross-bridges)

ATP & ATPase binding site

on myosin serves as the motor's engine

tropomyosin

troponin

actin

myosin

13

nerve signal

red arrow

synaptic cleft

endomysium

A

sarcolemma

under the endomysium

motor end plate

myofilament

myofibril

vesicle

Ca2+ pump

interstitial fluid

Voltage-gated Ca2+ channels

synaptic knob

Ach receptor

junction fold

in orange

axon terminal

endomysium (microscope)

thin connective tissue surrounding each individual muscle fiber

muscle fiber (microscope)

muscle cell, one entire polygon-shaped cell

Nucleus of muscle cell (microscope)

the dark oval located at the edge of a muscle fiber