myocyte
(noun)
A muscle cell.
Examples of myocyte in the following topics:
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Skeletal Muscle Fibers
- Myocytes, sometimes called muscle fibers, form the bulk of muscle tissue.
- The sarcolemma of myocytes contains numerous invaginations (pits) called transverse tubules which are usually perpendicular to the length of the myocyte.
- Each myocyte contains multiple nuclei due to their derivation from multiple myoblasts, progenitor cells that give rise to myocytes.
- These myoblasts asre located to the periphery of the myocyte and flattened so as not to impact myocyte contraction.
- Each myocyte can contain many thousands of myofibrils.
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Characteristics of Muscle Tissue
- Muscle cells, or myocytes, contain myofibrils comprised of actin and myosin myofilaments which slide past each other producing tension that changes the shape of the myocyte.
- Numerous myocytes make up muscle tissue and the controlled production of tension in these cells can generate significant force.
- Morphologically skeletal myocytes are elongated and tubular and appear striated with multiple peripheral nuclei.
- Cardiac myocytes are shorter than skeletal equivalents and contain only one or two centrally located nuclei.
- Smooth muscle myocytes are spindle shaped with a single centrally located nucleus.
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Structure and Function of the Muscular System
- Muscle cells, or myocytes, contain myofibrils comprised of actin and myosin myofilaments which slide past each other producing tension that changes the shape of the myocyte.
- Numerous myocytes make up muscle tissue and the controlled production of tension in these cells can generate significant force.
- Morphologically skeletal myocytes are elongated and tubular and appear striated with multiple peripheral nuclei.
- Cardiac myocytes are shorter than skeletal equivalents and contain only one or two centrally located nuclei.
- Smooth muscle myocytes are spindle shaped with a single centrally located nucleus.
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Muscle Development
- Myocyte Enhance Factors (MEFs) promote myogenesis.
- A myocyte (also known as a muscle cell or muscle fiber) is the type of cell found in muscle tissue.
- There are various specialized forms of myocytes: cardiac, skeletal, and smooth muscle cells, with various properties.
- Cardiac myocytes are responsible for generating the electrical impulses that control the heart rate, among other things.
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Sliding Filament Model of Contraction
- However, when multiplied by the number of sarcomeres in a myofibril, myofibrils in a myocyte and myocytes in a muscle, the amount of force and movement generated is significant.
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Autonomic Interactions
- Increases heart rate and the contractility of cardiac cells (myocytes), thereby providing a mechanism for the enhanced blood flow to skeletal muscles.
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Myocardial Thickness and Function
- Cardiomyocytes are shorter than skeletal myocytes and have fewer nuclei.