Dr.

Hegazy Histology Muscle

Muscle 1

Skeletal muscles Cardiac muscles Smooth muscles

Striated Striated Non- Striated
Voluntary Involuntary Involuntary

General Characteristics of the Muscle Tissue:

• Muscle cells = muscle fibers :
The structural and functional units of muscle tissue
• Contain (thin actin & thick myosin filaments = myofilaments

• myofibriles = thread like bundles found within the striated muscle fiber.
In it the Myofilaments are arranged
• Sarcolemma = Cell membrane of muscle cell
• Sarcoplasm = cytoplasm of muscle cell (it is acidophilic) rich in organelles as
mitochondria, sER & myofibrils & inclusions as fat, glycogen & myoglobin pigment.
• Sarcoplasmic reticulum = sER in muscle cell

Origin of the Muscular Tissue:

 Undifferentiated mesenchymal cells differentiate first into myoblasts.
 Myoblasts are embryonic progenitor cells that differentiate into myocytes.
 The myocytes (muscle cells) can form all types of muscle tissue.
o In postnatal life myoblasts are converted into

satellite cells
Mononucleated flattened cells between
Sarcolemma (external ) basement membrane

General appearance:
Dr.Hegazy Histology Muscle

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Skeletal Muscle
Sites: It is attached to the skeleton, except:
Face, tongue Pharynx Diaphragm,
 upper 1/3 of esophagus,  muscles. Cremasteric

Organization: Skeletal muscle supported by CT that is organized into:

a) Epimysium:
 Dense CT → surrounds the whole muscle.
 It is penetrated by the major vascular & nerve supply of the muscle.
b) Perimysium:
 less dense CT. that descends from the epimysium and surrounds a group of muscle
fibers to form a bundle or fascicle.
 Large blood vessels and nerves pass in it.
c) Endomysium:
 a layer of reticular fibers that surround each muscle fiber.
 Small blood vessels and fine nerves pass in it.

Function of CT covering: is to:

o Rich in nerves & blood vessels that nourish muscle fibers through diffusion.
o Force transmission ‫ & نقل قوة الشـد‬connecting the muscle fibers together.
Dr.Hegazy Histology Muscle
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Histological Structure of skeletal myofiber:

L.M. of skeletal myofiber:

• Size: 10-100 um in diameter & markedly variable in length.

• Shape: cylindrical, non-branched (except in face & tongue).
• Sarcolemma: thick due to its fusion with surrounding basal lamina & endomysium.
• Nuclei: each cell has multiple, oval peripheral nuclei. Their number in each cell
corresponds to the number of fused mononucleated myoblasts.
• Sarcoplasm:
with uniformly placed transverse striations → appear clearly in longitudinal section.

E.M: contains:
Organelles: Inclusions:
• Myofibrils • Glycogen
• T tubules • Myoglobin
• Sarcoplasmic reticulum
• mitochondria
Myofibrils:
muscle cell (muscle fiber) is filled with
o numerous cylindrical fibrils which extend the entire length of the muscle fiber.
o They are parallel to each other and along the axis of the fiber.

EM Picture of Myofibrils:
 Each myofibril shows alternating dark & light bands → explain appearance of transverse
striations and give the descriptive term striated muscle.
 Dark bands in adjacent myofibrils are arranged beside each other at the same level and
alternate with light bands, giving the appearance of transverse striations.
Dr.Hegazy Histology Muscle
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 According to their appearance under the polarizing microscope:
o I band light band contain actin only
is called isotropic → does not alter the plane of polarized light.
o A band dark band contain myosin & actin
is called anisotropic → alters the polarized light in two planes.
o H-band appears paler (formed of myosin filaments only) & bisected by M-line.
o M-line is produced by interconnections of adjacent myosin filaments.
o Z-line is dense by condensed actin filaments, matrix material & other proteins
(accessory proteins maintaining precise alignment of thin and thick filaments) as:
1. Titin, anchors thick myosin filaments to Z-lines
preventing excessive stretching of sarcomere .

2. Dystrophin, a large protein, link the external lamina of the muscle cell, to actin
filaments. Absence of this protein is associated with progressive muscular weakness
(muscular dystrophy).

Skeletal muscle hypertrophy: enlargement of the existing muscle fibers as in exercise.

Muscular dystrophy is a progressive degeneration of skeletal muscle fibers, in which satellite
cells fail to replace degenerated fibers resulting in decrease in muscle function.
The Transverse tubules (T tubules) : 5
o invaginations of sarcolemma, forming transverse tubules or T-tubules in the sarcoplasm to
encircle all myofibrils.
o located at the A-I band junctions and their lumens are continuous with the extracellular
space.
o Each T-tubule lies in-between a pair of wide terminal cisternae of the sarcoplasmic
reticulum forming a triple structure called the triad tubular system.

Sarcoplasmic reticulum

• A well-developed smooth endoplasmic reticulum consisting of highly

organized tubular network around the myofibrils.
(Sarcotubules & Terminal cisternae)
• It is specialized for Ca + + storage & pump.

• . During contraction: ‫هااااااام‬

 shortening of sarcomere.
 shortening of I-band.
 narrowing of H-zone or even disappear.
 A-band do not change.
 The length of actin & myosin filaments is not changed.
6 Dr.Hegazy Histology Muscle
Function of Skeletal Muscle and the Role of the Tubular System:
• Skeletal muscle voluntary contraction (controlled by the will), except pharynx, esophagus
& cremasteric muscles are involuntary

The contraction proceeds as follows:

• The arrival of a nerve impulse to the neuromuscular junction triggers the depolarization
of the sarcolemma of muscle fiber.
• Depolarization is spread along membranes of T- tubules into the depth of the muscle fiber
—> stimulates the sarcoplasmic reticulum to rapidly release the Ca 2+ (Ca2+ pump) into the
sarcoplasm.
• Ca2+ facilitates the complex sliding of the actin filaments over the myosin deeper toward
the middle of the A-band.
When depolarization stops, Ca++ is actively pumped into the sarcoplasmic
reticulum,  Ca++in sarcoplasm & contraction stops (muscle relaxation).

Other organelles:
1. Mitochondria: numerous, arranged mainly in rows between myofibrils
2. Other organelles: few, found mainly in perinuclear cytoplasm.

inclusions:
1. Myoglobin: O2-binding pigmented protein, provide oxygen for oxidative reactions.
2. glycogen & lipid granules: found bt. myofibrils to provide energy.

According to the required function 3 types of fibers :

Types of skeletal muscle fibers
Red, White ,Intermediate

Type Red fibers White fibers

Color Red (dark) White ( pale) e.g. extraocular
Muscles
Sites Predominates in skeletal muscles as in : Muscles moving the eye & digits
1. the long back muscles in humans , Muscles of short distance
where adapted to erect posture sprinter.
2. Muscles of great endurance atheletes.
3. The chest muscles of flying birds.
Myoglobin Rich in myoglobin Poor in myoglobin

Mitochondria Larger & more numerous Less numerous

Vascularization Rich in capillaries Poor

Glycogen Less More

Size Small Large

Contraction Slow, prolonged, maintained Fast, short

fatigue slow fatigue easy fatigue
Energy Source Aerobic respiration anaerobic
Dr.Hegazy Histology Muscle
Differences between red and white skeletal muscle fibers
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Intermediate fibers (Their characteristics are intermediate bt. red & white fibers)

The classification of fiber types in muscle biopsies has clinical significance for the diagnosis of muscle
diseases such as those due to mitochondrial disorders.

Regeneration of Skeletal Muscle Cells:

• satellite cells are responsible for the skeletal muscle’s ability to regenerate.
• Satellite cells → Inactive reserve myoblasts
persist in adult muscle fiber between the sarcolemma and basal lamina
• After injury of muscle, satellite cells become activated, proliferate and fuse to give rise new
muscle fibers.

Musculotendinous Junction:
At junction of the muscle with the tendon:
• the muscle fibers taper off & the C.T. components of the muscle continue with tendons.
• Collagen fibers of the tendon insert among muscle fibers.

Muscle Cramps:
• sudden painful contractions of muscles due to:
 lowered blood flow to them
 lowered levels of potassium
 vigorous exercise without proper warming up (stretching).
• They usually involve the muscles of lower leg

Myasthenia gravis:
• An autoimmune disease characterized by weakening of skeletal muscles due to
formation of antibodies against the skeletal muscle's acetylcholine receptors .
• The gradual weakening affects the most active muscles first
• (muscles of the face , eyes & tongue), but eventually the muscles
of respiration become compromised & the individual dies of respiratory insufficiency
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Cardiac Muscle
Site:

 forms the (myocardium) : middle layer ( main bulk ) of heart's wall.

 This layer is thicker in the ventricles than in the atria
 The cardiac muscle is attached to the fibrous skeleton of the heart which
is dense fibrous C.T. at the junctions between the atria &the ventricles.
 Myocardium is surrounded by epicardium (visceral layer of pericardium)
from outside & endocardium from inside.

Organization :
 Cardiac muscle is formed of branched and interconnected muscle fibers;
 Each fiber is surrounded by delicate sheath of C.T. endomysium,
 rich in capillary network

Histological structure:
Each cardiac muscle fiber is formed of many separate cells,
called cardiac myocytes that are linked to each other.

L.M: Cardiac muscle cell is characterized by:

• Size: 80µm in length. 15µm in diameter
• Shape: Cylindrical cells , branched and join to adjacent cells.
• Sarcolemma: Thin cell membrane.
• Nucleus: single (may be two), oval & central in each cardiac myocyte.
• Sarcoplasm: by LM, is acidophilic, exhibits non-clear transverse striations
and intercalated discs

E.M:
A. Organelles~
1. Myofibrils: Less than in skeletal muscle.
2. Mitochondria: numerous, large with closely packed cristae.
3. Sarcoplasmic reticulum: less in number, development and organization
than in skeletal muscle. Its arrangement with T- tubule takes the form of
Diad (Not triad) tubular system at level of Z- line.
4. Other organelles: few
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B. Inclusions:
a) Glycogen granules:
b) Lipofuscin granules:
accumulate to be abundant in old age
→brown atrophy of the heart.
c) Atrial granules: present in muscle cells of heart atria.
They contain atrial natriuretic hormones
→ affect urinary excretion of sodium & water balance.
So, muscle cells of atria have an endocrine function.
The Intercalated Discs:
• The sites of junctions between the sarcolemma of adjacent cardiac muscle cells
in the cardiac muscle fiber.
LM: intercalated discs are clear lines that appear transversely at intervals
along the length of cardiac muscle fiber.
EM: intercalated discs are formed of transverse and lateral regions:

 The transverse component of the discs:

- crosses transversely the cardiac muscle fiber.
- Desmosomes & adherent junctions (fascia adherens) are
located in this region of the disc, bind cardiac muscle cells firmly
together to prevent their separation during repetitive contractions

 The lateral component of the discs

- lies parallel to muscle fibers.
- Gap junctions are located in this segment of the disc → allow the
contraction signals to pass from cell to other.
- Their position in the lateral parts of the disc protect them from
the contraction forces.

The valves of the Heart:

 Folds of the endocardium.

 Each valve is covered by simple squamous epithelium and core of dense fibrous
C.T., rich in collagen and elastic fibers & macrophages
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Function of Cardiac Muscle:
Exhibit involuntary rhythmic contraction that is modulated but not initiated,
by autonomic innervations & hormonal stimuli.

Purkinje Muscle Fibers:

▪ Moderator band is located in the right ventricle
▪ it contains Purkinje muscle fibers.
o Purkinje muscle fibers are highly specialized cardiac muscle fibers
→constitute atrioventricular (A -V) bundle & its branches.
o They rapidly transmit the contractile impulses to various parts of
ventricular cardiac muscle cells via gap junctions, faster than the
ordinary myocardium.
o They are grouped into bundles which are surrounded with C.T.
sheath

Histological characteristics of purkinje fibers:

• Shape: larger in diameter, than ordinary cardiac muscle fibers.
• Nucleus: usually eccentric in position
• Sarcoplasm: pale & vacuolated (due to excess glycogen).

- No striations appear in the sarcoplasm due to few myofibrils,

- myofibrils are peripherally situated parallel to sarcolemma.
- No intercalated discs.

Repair of Injured Cardiac Myocytes:

• Cardiac muscle doesn't contain progenitor cells (No Satellite Cells).
So, it cannot regenerate.
• When the cardiac myocytes are injured, as in myocardial infarction,
they heal by fibrous tissue

- Angina: slowly progressive reduction of coronary artery lumen by atheroma impairs

oxygenation of ventricular muscle → chest pain increases by exertion.

- Myocardial infarction: complete obstruction of one of coronary arteries

leads to cardiac muscle cell death
→ release proteins ( troponin-T and creatine kinase) = (called cardiac enzymes)
into bloodstream.
So, these proteins are measured immediately in all patients who present with chest pain
for early diagnosis and rapid treatment.
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Smooth Muscle

Site:
• Wall of hollow viscera (e.g. digestive, urinary, genital & respiratory tracts).
• Wall of blood vessels. • Skin and the eye.
Organization:

 Smooth muscle fibers are connected together by gap junctions.

 Each muscle fiber is surrounded by thin reticular fibers (endomysium).
 Fibers are usually packed to form a sheet, layers or bundle.
 Each bundle includes small group of muscle fibers, surrounded by thin
collagenous C.T. perimysium, containing blood vessels & nerves.

Smooth muscle cells are affected by hormones such as oxytocin which is a

potent stimulator of smooth muscle contraction. It plays an essential role in
uterine contraction during parturition, so used to induce or enhance labor.

Smooth muscle fiber

Histological structure:
• Size: small diameter (8 µm). length varies from 20 µm in small blood
vessels to 500 µmin pregnant uterus.
• Shape: Non-branched spindle- shaped fibers;
each fiber is a cell with wider central area & tapering ends.
Cells are arranged so that their tapered parts lie adjacent to the broad parts of
the neighbouring cells ( overlap each other) so they form sheaths.

Therefore in transverse section, smooth muscle cells appear with variable diameter.

• Sarcolemma thin surrounded by basal lamina. It shows no T-tubules, instead there

are invaginations along the cell surface, called caveolae. There is no tubular system.
The caveolae can control calciumrelease and muscle contraction.

• Nucleus: single, oval & central. Its shape is like corkscrew during contraction.
• Sarcoplasm: acidophilic, contains numerous mitochondria,

• Sarcoplasmic reticulum, free ribosomes, small Golgi apparatus & glycogen

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granules. They are present mainly at the perinuclear region.
• Myofibrils, of thick myosin and thin actin filaments, are irregularly arranged.
Therefore, striations do not appear in smooth muscle fibers.
• Actin filaments insert into sarcoplasmic and sarcolemma-associated dense
bodies (correspond to Z-line in striated muscle) and extend into the
sarcoplasm to interact with myosin filaments.
• Abundant intermediate desmin filaments also insert into the dense bodies.
The attachments of actin and intermediate filaments to the dense bodie
transmit contractile force to adjacent smooth muscle cells.

Function of smooth muscle:

• It produces slow and sustained involuntary contraction that is modulated by
autonomic innervations and hormones.
• Also, it can secrete C.T. matrix & fibers as in the wall of blood vessel

Regeneration & Growth of Smooth Muscle:

• Smooth muscles can grow (hypertrophy) & increase in number (hyperplasia) in certain
conditions as in hypertensive arteries & pregnant uterus.
• Regeneration of smooth muscles after damage can occur by mitotic division.
Pericytes can repair the smooth muscles of the blood vessels.
133 Differences between the Three Types of Muscle Fibers
Skeletal Muscle Cardiac Muscle Smooth Muscle

Site Attached to The heart wall Wall of the

bone viscera
Size Largest Medium sized Smallest

Single Fiber Single cell Several cells Single cell

Shape Cylindrical Cylindrical Spindle-shaped

Branching Rarely Branched Non-branched
Sarcolemma Thick Very thin Thin
Striation Striated Non-clear Non-striated
striation
Nuclei Multiple & One & central One & central
peripheral
Sarcomeres Regular Irregular absent

Tubular Triad system Diad system Absent

System
Cell None Intercalated Gap junction
Junctions disc: Fascia
adherens,
Regeneration Satellite cells Cannot &
desmosome Mitosis or from
regenerate
gap junction.in pericytes
normal
Action Voluntary conditions
Involuntary Involuntary

innervations Motor Autonomic Autonomic

Modification Muscle spindle Purkinje fibers