Visceral tissue is also known as smooth muscle.
Understanding Smooth Muscle
Smooth muscle, also called visceral muscle, plays a critical role in various bodily functions. It's characterized by its involuntary nature and location within internal organs.
Key Features of Smooth Muscle:
- Involuntary Control: Unlike skeletal muscles, you can't consciously control smooth muscle contractions. These muscles operate automatically.
- Location: Smooth muscle is found in the walls of blood vessels, the digestive tract, and other internal organs such as the digestive tract. The reference specifies that it lines organs.
- Non-Striated Appearance: Smooth muscle lacks the striated appearance of skeletal muscle, hence the name "smooth" muscle. The provided reference confirms that it's not striated.
Examples of Smooth Muscle Function:
- Constricting blood vessels
- Propelling food through the digestive system
- Emptying the bladder
Feature | Smooth Muscle (Visceral) |
---|---|
Control | Involuntary |
Location | Internal organs |
Striations | Absent |