smooth muscle
Definition of smooth muscle
: muscle tissue that lacks cross striations, is made up of elongated spindle-shaped cells having a central nucleus, and is found especially in vertebrate hollow organs and structures (such as the digestive tract and bladder) as thin sheets performing functions not subject to direct voluntary control and in all or most of the musculature of invertebrates other than arthropods — compare striated muscle
From the M-W Editors
First Known Use of smooth muscle
circa 1890
Medical Dictionary
smooth muscle
Medical Definition of smooth muscle
: muscle tissue that lacks cross striations, that is made up of elongated spindle-shaped cells having a central nucleus, and that is found especially in vertebrate hollow organs and structures (as the small intestine and bladder) as thin sheets performing functions not subject to direct voluntary control and in all or most of the musculature of invertebrates other than arthropods—called also nonstriated muscle, unstriated muscle; compare cardiac muscle, striated muscle
Illustration of smooth muscle
Learn More about smooth muscle
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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about smooth muscle
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