smooth muscle

noun

Definition of smooth muscle

: muscle tissue that lacks cross striations, is made up of elongated spindle-shaped cells having a central nucleus, and is found especially in vertebrate hollow organs and structures (such as the digestive tract and bladder) as thin sheets performing functions not subject to direct voluntary control and in all or most of the musculature of invertebrates other than arthropods — compare striated muscle

Examples of smooth muscle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

That's because pregnancy hormone progesterone causes the smooth muscles in both the esophagus and bowel to relax. Felissa Allard, SELF, "These Are The Pregnancy Pains You Shouldn’t Ignore," 8 July 2019 Under sedation, a small catheter is introduced through a bronchoscope to deliver a safe amount of heat to reduce excess smooth muscle in the lungs. Tracy Maness, Houston Chronicle, "Treatment helps adults manage asthma at Memorial Hermann Greater Heights," 30 Apr. 2018

First Known Use of smooth muscle

circa 1890, in the meaning defined above

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More Definitions for smooth muscle

smooth muscle

noun

Medical Definition of smooth muscle

: muscle tissue that lacks cross striations, that is made up of elongated spindle-shaped cells having a central nucleus, and that is found especially in vertebrate hollow organs and structures (as the small intestine and bladder) as thin sheets performing functions not subject to direct voluntary control and in all or most of the musculature of invertebrates other than arthropods

called also nonstriated muscle, unstriated muscle

— compare cardiac muscle, striated muscle