Muscle cells
Muscle Cells
Muscle cells, also known as myocytes, are specialized cells that have the ability to contract. They are the building blocks of the muscular system and are responsible for body movement and maintaining posture. The term "muscle cell" is derived from the Latin word "musculus", meaning "little mouse", due to the appearance of muscles moving under the skin.
Pronunciation
Muscle cells: /ˈmʌsəl sɛlz/
Etymology
The term "muscle" comes from the Latin "musculus", which means "little mouse". This is likely due to the appearance of muscles moving under the skin, which resembles the movement of a mouse. The term "cell" comes from the Latin "cella", meaning "small room", which was used to describe the appearance of cells under a microscope.
Types of Muscle Cells
There are three types of muscle cells: skeletal muscle cells, cardiac muscle cells, and smooth muscle cells. Each type has a unique structure and function.
- Skeletal muscle cells are long, cylindrical cells that are responsible for voluntary movements. They are striated, meaning they have a banded appearance under a microscope.
- Cardiac muscle cells are found in the heart and are responsible for pumping blood throughout the body. They are also striated, but unlike skeletal muscle cells, they are not under voluntary control.
- Smooth muscle cells are found in the walls of organs and structures such as the esophagus, stomach, intestines, bronchi, uterus, urethra, and blood vessels. They are not striated and are under involuntary control.
Related Terms
- Myofibril: A basic rod-like unit of a muscle cell.
- Sarcomere: The functional unit of striated muscle tissue.
- Actin and Myosin: The two proteins that interact to cause muscle contraction.
- Tropomyosin and Troponin: Proteins that regulate muscle contraction.
- Neuromuscular junction: The synapse between a motor neuron and a skeletal muscle cell.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Muscle cells
- Wikipedia's article - Muscle cells
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