Normal·Renal/Urinary·Bladder

Smooth muscle — bladder wall (detrusor)

Stain: H&E·Magnification: 20x·Tissue: Smooth muscle·3 labeled regions
Smooth muscle — bladder wall (detrusor) histology — Renal/Urinary, Bladder, H&E
Wikimedia Commons · File:Smooth muscle (histology slide).jpg by Juan Carlos Fonseca Mata · https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Smooth_muscle_(histology_slide).jpg (CC BY-SA 4.0)
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Description

Spindle-shaped cells with single central nuclei and no striations. Involuntary; can undergo hyperplasia (unlike striated muscle which only hypertrophies).

Labeled regions (3)

  1. 1
    Spindle-shaped fiber

    Tapered ends, single central nucleus; cells overlap so adjacent slices look like 'eyes'.

  2. 2
    Central elongated nucleus

    Cigar-shaped; contracts into a corkscrew during contraction.

  3. 3
    No striations

    Distinguishes from cardiac + skeletal — actin/myosin not in register.

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