Myocytes
Myocytes
Myocytes (pronounced: my-o-cytes, from the Greek words "myo", meaning muscle, and "cyte", meaning cell) are long, tubular cells that develop from myoblasts to form muscles in a process known as myogenesis.
Etymology
The term "myocyte" is derived from the Greek words "myo", meaning muscle, and "cyte", meaning cell. This term accurately describes the function of these cells as the primary components of muscle tissue.
Types of Myocytes
There are three types of myocytes:
- Cardiac Myocytes: These are responsible for generating contractile force in the heart. They are also known as cardiomyocytes.
- Skeletal Myocytes: These are the muscle fibers that constitute the skeletal muscles. They are also known as skeletal muscle cells.
- Smooth Myocytes: These are found in the walls of hollow organs like the intestines and uterus. They are also known as smooth muscle cells.
Function
Myocytes are primarily responsible for muscle contraction. They achieve this through the sliding filament model of muscle contraction. This process involves the interaction of the myosin and actin filaments within the myocyte's sarcomere, the basic unit of muscle tissue.
Related Terms
- Myoblasts: These are the precursor cells that differentiate to form myocytes.
- Myogenesis: This is the process of muscle tissue development, in which myoblasts differentiate into myocytes.
- Sarcomere: This is the basic unit of muscle tissue, found within myocytes.
- Actin: This is a protein that forms (together with myosin) the contractile filaments of muscle cells.
- Myosin: This is a type of motor protein that works together with actin to enable muscle contraction.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Myocytes
- Wikipedia's article - Myocytes
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