Which of the following best describes an attribute of visceral smooth muscle not shared by skeletal muscle?
An impoant characteristic of visceral smooth muscle is its ability to contract in response to stretch. Stretch results in depolarization and potentially the generation of action potentials. These action potentials, coupled with normal slow-wave potentials,stimulate rhythmical contractions. Smooth muscle contraction is dependent on both actin and ATP. However, the cross-bridge cycle in smooth muscle is considerably slower than in skeletal muscle, which allows for a higher maximal force of contraction.
Contraction is ATP dependent
Contracts in response to stretch
Does not contain actin filaments
High rate of cross-bridge cycling
Smooth Muscle