Moriah Henderson
3/4/26
Anatomy & Physiology
8.5 Questions
1. Describe two major types of smooth muscle.
- Multiunit smooth muscle is when the muscle fibers are separate rather than
organized into sheets. It is found in the irises of the eyes and in the walls of the
blood vessels. Multiunit smooth muscle tissue contracts only in response to
stimulation by motor nerve impulses or certain hormones.
- Visceral smooth muscle is composed of sheets of spindle-shaped cells in close
contact with one another. It is found in the walls of hollow organs, such as the
stomach, intestines, urinary bladder, and uterus.
2. What special characteristics of visceral smooth muscle make peristalsis
possible?
- The special characteristics of visceral smooth muscle that make peristalsis
possible is the transmission of impulses from cell to cell and rhythmicity.
3. How does smooth muscle contraction differ from that of skeletal muscle?
- Smooth muscle contraction differs from skeletal muscle because smooth muscle
has two neurotransmitters instead of one, they are acetylcholine and
norepinephrine. Smooth muscle is also slower to contract and relax than skeletal
muscle.
8.6 Questions
1. How is cardiac muscle similar to smooth muscle?
- Cardiac muscle is similar to smooth muscle because they both have single
nuclei, have self-exciting; rhythmic contraction fibers, and are involuntary
controlled.
2. How is cardiac muscle similar to skeletal muscle?
- Cardiac muscle is similar to skeletal muscle because they both have actin and
myosin filaments, have present striations, and have a well-developed transverse
tubule system.
3. What is the function of intercalated disks?
- The function of intercalated disks is to help join cells and to transmit the force of
contraction from cell to cell, and these disks also allow muscle impulses to pass
freely so that they travel rapidly from cell to cell.
4. What characteristic of cardiac muscle causes contraction of the heart as a unit?
- The characteristic of cardiac muscle that causes it to have unit contraction are
the elaborate junctions that are formed between the intercalated disks.
8.7 Questions
1. Distinguish between the origin and insertion of a muscle.
3/4/26
Anatomy & Physiology
8.5 Questions
1. Describe two major types of smooth muscle.
- Multiunit smooth muscle is when the muscle fibers are separate rather than
organized into sheets. It is found in the irises of the eyes and in the walls of the
blood vessels. Multiunit smooth muscle tissue contracts only in response to
stimulation by motor nerve impulses or certain hormones.
- Visceral smooth muscle is composed of sheets of spindle-shaped cells in close
contact with one another. It is found in the walls of hollow organs, such as the
stomach, intestines, urinary bladder, and uterus.
2. What special characteristics of visceral smooth muscle make peristalsis
possible?
- The special characteristics of visceral smooth muscle that make peristalsis
possible is the transmission of impulses from cell to cell and rhythmicity.
3. How does smooth muscle contraction differ from that of skeletal muscle?
- Smooth muscle contraction differs from skeletal muscle because smooth muscle
has two neurotransmitters instead of one, they are acetylcholine and
norepinephrine. Smooth muscle is also slower to contract and relax than skeletal
muscle.
8.6 Questions
1. How is cardiac muscle similar to smooth muscle?
- Cardiac muscle is similar to smooth muscle because they both have single
nuclei, have self-exciting; rhythmic contraction fibers, and are involuntary
controlled.
2. How is cardiac muscle similar to skeletal muscle?
- Cardiac muscle is similar to skeletal muscle because they both have actin and
myosin filaments, have present striations, and have a well-developed transverse
tubule system.
3. What is the function of intercalated disks?
- The function of intercalated disks is to help join cells and to transmit the force of
contraction from cell to cell, and these disks also allow muscle impulses to pass
freely so that they travel rapidly from cell to cell.
4. What characteristic of cardiac muscle causes contraction of the heart as a unit?
- The characteristic of cardiac muscle that causes it to have unit contraction are
the elaborate junctions that are formed between the intercalated disks.
8.7 Questions
1. Distinguish between the origin and insertion of a muscle.
