Muscle cell
A muscle cell is also known as a myocyte when referring to either a cardiac muscle cell (cardiomyocyte), or a smooth muscle cell as these are both small cells.[1] A skeletal muscle cell is long and threadlike with many nuclei and is called a muscle fiber.[1] Muscle cells (including myocytes and muscle fibers) develop from embryonic precursor cells called myoblasts.[2]
| Muscle cell | |
|---|---|
 General structure of a skeletal muscle cell and neuromuscular junction: | |
| Details | |
| Location | Muscle |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | Myocyte |
| MeSH | D032342 |
| TH | H2.00.05.0.00002 |
| FMA | 67328 |
| Anatomical terms of microanatomy | |
Myoblasts fuse form multinucleated skeletal muscle cells known as syncytia in a process known as myogenesis.[3][4] Skeletal muscle cells and cardiac muscle cells both contain myofibrils and sarcomeres and form a striated muscle tissue.[5]
Cardiac muscle cells form the cardiac muscle in the walls of the heart chambers, and have a single central nucleus.[6] Cardiac muscle cells are joined to neighboring cells by intercalated discs, and when joined in a visible unit they are described as a cardiac muscle fiber.[7]
Smooth muscle cells control involuntary movements such as the peristalsis contractions in the esophagus and stomach. Smooth muscle has no myofibrils or sarcomeres and is therefore non-striated. Smooth muscle cells have a single nucleus.