Smooth Muscles MDCAT Quiz: Smooth muscle is involuntary muscle tissue found all over the body, mostly forming the walls of hollow organs—like the digetic tract, blood vessels, and the bladder. Unlike skeletal muscles, smooth muscles are not striated and are rather uniform under the microscope. The structure and function of smooth muscle are very significant for MDCAT students in particular, given their role in very many physiological functions. The MDCAT Quiz on smooth muscles assesses your understanding of their nature, location, and contribution to a variety of different bodily functions.
Structure and Properties of Smooth Muscles
Smooth muscles comprise spindle-shaped, non-striated cells containing a single, centrally placed nucleus. In contrast to skeletal muscles, smooth muscle fibers do not represent an organized regular pattern; thus, under a microscope, these look smooth. They are involuntarily contractile and are regulated by the autonomic nervous system, hormones, and local factors such as stretch. Smooth muscle fibers can contract for long periods without fatiguing; therefore, they perform functions vital to life—functions such as peristalsis in the GI tract. The MDCAT Quiz will enable you to understand the structural differences between smooth muscle and the other types of muscles and their respective physiological roles.
Function of Smooth Muscles
Smooth muscles are involved in a wide range of bodily functions, especially in the regulation of the internal environment. In the digestive system, smooth muscles help move food through the digestive tract via peristalsis, a series of wave-like contractions. In blood vessels, smooth muscles regulate blood pressure by constricting or dilating blood vessels. Additionally, smooth muscles are responsible for regulating the flow of air in the respiratory system and the emptying of the bladder. A Free Flashcard on smooth muscle functions will help you quickly recall their roles in various physiological processes, such as digestion, circulation, and respiration.
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Quiz on Smooth Muscles
Taking a MDCAT Quiz on smooth muscles will test your understanding of the structure, function, and locations in the body. The quiz will cover topics such as how smooth muscles contribute to involuntary movements in organs, the mechanisms of smooth muscle contraction, and the differences between smooth muscle and other types of muscle tissues. Using Free Flashcards will also reinforce your understanding of smooth muscle physiology, so you can quickly prepare for your MDCAT exam.
Smooth muscles are ________ in appearance.
Non-striated
Smooth muscles are ________ controlled.
Involuntary
Smooth muscle fibers are ________ than skeletal muscle fibers.
Shorter
Smooth muscle is found in the ________.
Walls of hollow organs
The primary function of smooth muscle is to ________.
Contract and relax
Smooth muscles are controlled by the ________ nervous system.
Autonomic
The smooth muscle cell contains a ________ nucleus.
Single
The contraction of smooth muscle is controlled by the ________.
Calcium ions
The contraction of smooth muscle is slow and sustained due to the presence of ________.
Slow calcium entry
Smooth muscle fibers are connected by ________ to allow coordinated contraction.
Gap junctions
Smooth muscle lacks the ________ that are found in skeletal muscle fibers.
Striations
The smooth muscle is more ________ than skeletal muscle.
Fatigable
In smooth muscle, contraction is triggered by ________ stimulation.
Electrical
Smooth muscle contraction is ________ than skeletal muscle contraction.
Slower
The smooth muscle cells have ________ rather than sarcomeres.
Dense bodies
Smooth muscle is found in the ________ system.
Digestive
The muscle responsible for peristalsis in the digestive tract is ________.
Smooth muscle
The ________ layer of smooth muscle is responsible for constricting the blood vessels.
Circular
Smooth muscle contraction is controlled by the ________ nervous system.
Autonomic
The unique feature of smooth muscle contraction is its ability to ________.
Sustain contractions
The ________ in smooth muscle cells are responsible for the movement of calcium during contraction.
Dense bodies
Smooth muscle fibers can be ________ in response to changes in the environment.
Stretching
The smooth muscle's ability to contract for long periods without fatigue is called ________.
Tonic contraction
Smooth muscle can contract even in the absence of nerve input, a phenomenon known as ________.
Spontaneous activity
The structure that anchors smooth muscle to surrounding tissues is ________.
Dense bodies
In smooth muscle, the ________ is primarily responsible for the regulation of contraction.
Calcium ions
The contraction of smooth muscle is ________ than that of skeletal muscle.
Slower
Smooth muscle does not have ________, making its contraction smoother.
Striations
The ________ is the neurotransmitter responsible for smooth muscle contraction.
Acetylcholine
Smooth muscles are primarily involved in controlling ________ within the body.
Internal organs
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