smooth muscle

American  

noun

Anatomy.

1. involuntary muscle tissue in the walls of viscera and blood vessels, consisting of nonstriated, spindle-shaped cells.

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smooth muscle British  

noun

1. muscle that is capable of slow rhythmic involuntary contractions: occurs in the walls of the blood vessels, alimentary canal, etc Compare striped muscle

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Etymology

Origin of smooth muscle

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

The study found pro repair signals involving immune modulation, blood vessel and lymphatic development, fibroblast activation, myocardial salvage, smooth muscle cell proliferation, and neurogenesis in rat models.

From Science Daily • May 5, 2026

These microscopic channels connect neighboring smooth muscle cells so they contract together rather than independently.

From Science Daily • Jan. 13, 2026

Vascular tissue from healthy mice and people had no signs of smooth muscle cells with the DNA damage found in atherosclerotic plaques.

From Science Daily • May 1, 2024

DNA damage, another hallmark of cancer, accumulated in the mouse and human smooth muscle cells and appears to accelerate atherosclerosis, the researchers found.

From Science Daily • May 1, 2024

As a matter of fact, the capillaries of the brain are wanting in nerves and smooth muscle fibers.

From Psychotherapy by Walsh, James J. (James Joseph)