A. Prof.

Dr Ruzanna
PhD, DM, MD, MSc.
Types of Muscle Tissue
Skeletal

Cardiac

Smooth
Similarities…

▪ Their cells are called fibers( smooth and skeletal) because

they are elongated
▪ Contraction depends on myofilaments
▪ Actin
▪ Myosin
▪ The cytoplasm of muscle fibers or cells is called sarcoplasm
▪ The smooth endoplasmic reticulum of fibers or cells is called
sarcoplasmic reticulum
▪ The plasma membrane of fibers or cells is called the
sarcolemma
▪ Individual muscle cells are called myocytes
Skeletal muscle cells (fibres) are long, cylindrical and multinucleate

cytoplasm peripheral
(=sarcoplasm) multiple nuclei cell membrane
(=sarcolemma)
myofibrils

cross-striations
(alternating light
and dark bands)
Characteristic
banding pattern
due to the
arrangement of
the myofilaments
MYOFIBRIL
myofilaments inside A single
the myofibril do not SARCOMERE
myofibril
extend the entire length
of the MYOFIBRILS but
are arranged in repeating
Thin actin Thick myosin
units called SARCOMERES
filament filament with
Z LINE cross bridges
Z LINE

SARCOMERE Myofilaments
Parts of a Muscle
 Connective Tissue Sheaths
▪ Connective Tissue of a Muscle
▪ Epimysium - Dense regular c.t. that surrounds entire muscle
▪ Separates muscle from surrounding tissues and organs.
▪ Perimysium -Fibrous c. t. that surrounds a group of muscle
fibers called a fascicle
▪ Contains b.v and nerves.
▪ Endomysium -Loose connective tissue that surrounds individual
muscle fibers.
▪ Also contains b.v., nerves.
Epimysium is a dense regular c.t. surrounding entire muscle
Separates muscle from surrounding tissues and organs.
Perimysium is a fibrous c.t. surrounding a group of muscle fibers
called a fascicle Skeletal muscle
Contains b.v and nerves.

Epimysium:
surrounds
whole muscle

Endomysium is a loose
connective tissue surrounding
each muscle fiber

Perimysium is
around fascicle
 TENDON

EPIMYSIUM

ENDOMYSIUM

BONE
MUSCLE FIBER
PERIMYSIUM
ENDOMYSIUM
FASCICLE
 Skeletal Muscle Structure
➢ Composed of muscle cells (fibers), connective tissue, blood vessels,
nerves.
➢ Fibers are long, cylindrical, and multinucleated.
➢ Develop from myoblasts
➢ Striated appearance
➢ Nuclei are peripherally located under the
sarcolemma
➢ Function
➢ Voluntary movement
➢ Location
➢ Attach to the skeleton
Sarcoplasm
In addition to the usual
organelles, contains
unusually large amounts
of glycosomes –
granules of stored
glycogen
myoglobin- red
pigment that stores
oxygen
Cardiac muscle has several distinct
characteristics:
1. Cardiac muscle is striated, like skeletal muscle.
2. Cardiac muscle consists of distinct, individual cells, unlike
skeletal muscle, is not called fibers (which consists of long,
multinucleate fibers).
3. Cardiac muscle cells are attached end-to-end by specialized
junctions called intercalated discs.
4.Each end of a
cardiac muscle cell
may attach to two or
more other cells, so
that the fibrous
structure of cardiac
muscle appears to be
branched (unlike
skeletal muscle, where
each fiber is a single,
discrete unit).

Skeletal muscle Cardiac Muscle

 Myocardium
Composed of cardiac muscle fibers
consists of muscle cells-
cardiomyocytes
▪ Contractions are rhythmic,
spontaneous and involuntary
Function
▪ Contracts to propel blood into
circulatory system
▪ Location
▪ Occurs in walls of heart
▪ Characteristics
▪ Spindle-shaped cells
Smooth Muscle Tissue
(myocytes)with
central nuclei
▪ Arranged closely to form
sheets
▪ No striations (no sarcomeres)
▪ The length of the myocytes is
very variable in different
organs. In some cases, such as
in the uterus during pregnancy,
the length can reach 0.5mm.
▪ Contractions are slow,
sustained and resistant to
fatigue
▪ Function
▪ Propels substances along
internal passageways
▪ Involuntary control
▪ Location
1. inside the eye 2. walls of vessels 3. respiratory tubes
4. digestive tubes 5. urinary organs 6. reproductive organs
Smooth muscle sheath
Each cell is enclosed by a thin basal lamina
and a fine network of reticular
fibers(endomysium)
The organelles are located close to the
nucleus in two distinct poles. The rest of
the sarcoplasm is filled with
myofilaments
In addition to contractile activity, smooth
muscle cells also synthesize the
extracellular matrix components
normally synthesized by fibroblasts.
Cells are linked by gap junctions
Three types of myofilaments may be seen:
▪ thin myofilaments
▪ thick myofilaments
▪ intermediate filaments
THANK YOU