Title: Types of muscle cells: Characteristics, location, roles | Kenhub
Headings: Types of muscle cells
Types of muscle cells: want to learn more about it?
Types of muscle cells
Contents
Skeletal muscle cells
Characteristics
Structure
Contraction
Cardiac muscle cells
Characteristics
Satellite cells
Smooth muscle cells
Characteristics
Location and functions
Highlights
Skeletal muscle cells
Cardiac muscle cells
Smooth muscle cells
Types of muscle cells: want to learn more about it?

Content: Skeletal muscle cells also contain two regulatory proteins, known as troponin and tropomyosin. These prevent myosin head binding site of actin from associating with myosin. The myosin head binding site on the actin filament remains covered until calcium ions are released from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR). The calcium ions being released from the SR is an end result of a chain of events in the contraction cycle started by an action potential triggering the release of acetylcholine (ACh), a neurotransmitter. This process is enhanced by structures known as transverse tubules or T-tubules, which are invaginations of the sarcolemma, allowing depolarization to reach the inside of the cell more quickly. A T-tubule, flanked by enlarged sarcoplasmic reticulums called terminal cisternae, form a structure called a triad. This is involved in depolarization and activation of the muscle cell, resulting in contraction. As contraction requires energy, striated muscle cells contain many large mitochondria, which in muscle cells are referred to as sarcosomes. Skeletal muscle tissue Explore study unit
Cardiac muscle cells
Characteristics
Cardiomyocytes are short and narrow, and fairly rectangular in shape. They are around 0.02 mm wide and 0.1 mm (millimeters) long.