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

PIEZO1 operates primarily within the smooth muscle of the uterus, where it detects rising pressure as contractions strengthen.

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

During an attack, the smooth muscle surrounding the airways starts to squeeze and tighten, known as bronchoconstriction.

From BBC • Apr. 4, 2024

This tube is reinforced in different ways by connective tissue, smooth muscle fibers, and fibroelastic tissue.

From Arteriosclerosis and Hypertension: with Chapters on Blood Pressure, 3rd Edition. by Warfield, Louis Marshall