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

They start to secrete renin and substances that trigger other changes: New nerves grow like weeds; immature smooth muscle cells build up; scars form around the tiny blood vessels, called arterioles; and inflammatory cells infiltrate.

From Science Daily • Nov. 21, 2024

To learn more, Reilly and Pan closely tracked the development of transformed smooth muscle cells in mice with atherosclerosis and sampled plaques of people with atherosclerosis.

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

To construct the protective scaffolding over the potentially deadly plaques, smooth muscle cells that line our blood vessels secrete what is known as "extracellular matrix" -- a fibrous, glue-like material rich in proteins.

From Science Daily • Mar. 11, 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)