Smooth Muscle

Light microscopic Structure:

cells - long - spindle shaped,  nucleus lies in the widest widest part of the fiber,  when the fiber contract the nucleus become folded, 30 - 200 µm long,between fibres lie endomycium

Electron microscopic structure:

 Mitochondria, ribosomes, golgi, rough EPR, myofilaments are present but no sarcomeres and no Z lines,thin filaments - actin and tropomyosin (7nm), thick filaments - myosin (17nmØ)

- intermediate filaments (10 nm)

- actin and myosin overlap more than in skeletal muscle and can therefore contract more

 A rudimentary sacroplasmic reticulum is present in the form of invaginations on the surface called caveolae , So there are no T-tubules,  Cells communicate through gap junctions.

Dense bodies

Filaments are attached to dense bodies which take the place of the Z line in skeletal muscle

There are two types of dense bodies - cytoplasmic and membrane

contains a percentage actinin (like the Z line)

dense bodies transmit contractile force to adjacent fibres

Arrangement:

Fibres can be single or in groups, normally arranged in sheaths,  In the GIT are 2 or 3 layers

Nerve supply:

2 types:

Where it is arranged in layers a few fibres are innervated together

impulse spread through the gap junctions between fibres (slow contraction)

In the iris and the vas deferens each fiber is individually supplied (quick contraction)

The Palate

• The palate forms the arched roof of the mouth and the floor of the nasal cavities.
• The palate consists of two regions: the anterior 2/3 or bony part, called the hard palate, and the mobile posterior 1/3 or fibromuscular part, known as the soft palate.

The Hard Palate

• The anterior bony part of the palate is formed by the palatine process of the maxillae and the horizontal plates of the palatine bones.

• Anteriorly and laterally, the hard palate is bounded by the alveolar processes and the gingivae.
• Posteriorly, the hard palate is continuous with the soft palate.

• The incisive foramen is the mouth of the incisive canal.
• This foramen is located posterior to the maxillary central incisor teeth.
• This foramen is the common opening for the right and left incisive canals.
• The incisive canal and foramen transmit the nasopalatine nerve and the terminal branches of the sphenopalatine artery.

• Medial to the third molar tooth, the greater palatine foramen pierces the lateral border of the bony palate.
• The greater palatine vessels and nerve emerge from this foramen and run anteriorly into two grooves on the palate.

• The lesser palatine foramen transmits the lesser palatine nerve and vessels.
• This runs to the soft palate and adjacent structures.

The Orbital Vessels

• The orbital contents are supplied chiefly by the ophthalmic artery.
• The infraorbital artery, the continuation of the maxillary, also contributes blood to this region.
• Venous drainage is through the superior orbital fissure to enter the cavernous sinus.

The Ophthalmic Artery

• This artery arises from the internal carotid artery as it emerges from the cavernous sinus.
• It passes through the optic foramen within the dural sheath of the optic nerve and runs anteriorly, close to the superomedial wall of the orbit.

The Central Artery of the Retina

• This is the one of the smallest but most important branches of the ophthalmic artery.
• It arises inferior to the optic nerve until it approaches the eyeball.
• It then pierces the optic nerve and runs within it to emerge through the optic disc.
• The central artery of the retina spreads over the internal surface of the retina and supplies it.

The Ophthalmic Veins

The Superior Ophthalmic Vein

• The superior ophthalmic vein anastomoses with the facial vein.
• It has no valves and blood can flow in either direction.
• It crosses superior to the optic nerve, passes through the superior orbital fissure and ends in the cavernous sinus.

The Inferior Ophthalmic Vein

• This begins as a plexus on the floor of the orbit.
• It communicates with the inferior orbital fissure with the pterygoid plexus, crosses inferior to the optic nerve, and ends in either the superior ophthalmic vein or the cavernous sinus.

Classification

Epitheliums can be classified on appearance or on function

Classification based on appearance

- Simple - one layer of cells

- Pseudostratified - looks like more than one layer but is not

- Stratified - more than one layer of cells

Simple epitheliums

Simple squamous epithelium

 Cells are flat with bulging or flat nuclei.  Lines the insides of lung alveoli and certain ducts in the kidney

 Forms serous membranes called mesothelium that line cavities like: pericardial ,  peritoneal,  plural

 Lines blood vessels - known as endothelium

Simple cuboidal epithelium

It appears square in cross section,  Found in: - Ducts of salivary glands,  Follicles of the thyroid gland,  Pigment layer in the eye,  Collecting ducts of the kidney, In the middle ear is ciliated type.

Simple columnar

• Lines the gastrointestinal tract from the stomach to the anal canal,  Some columnar cells have a  secretory function – stomach, peg cells in the oviduct,  Some columnar cells have microvilli on their free border (striated border) – gall bladder, duodenum
• Microvilli increase the surface area for absorption
• Some columnar cells have cilia – oviduct, smaller bronchi
• Cilia transport particles

Pseudostratified

Appears as stratified epithelium but all cells are in contact with the basement membrane.  Has a thick basement membrane. Different cell types make up this epithelium,  Cells that can be found in this type of epithelium are:

• Columnar cells with cilia or microvilli.
• Basal cells that do not reach the surface.
• Goblet cells that secrete mucous.
• Found in the trachea, epididymus, ductus deferens and female urethra

Stratified epithelium

Classified according to the shape of the surface cells

Stratified squamous epithelium

Has a basal layer that varies from cuboidal to columnar cells that divide to form new cells. Two types are found:

Keratinized:  Mostly forms a dry covering, The middle layers consists of cells that are forming- and filling up with keratin. The superficial cells form a tough non living layer of keratin,  Keratin is a type of protein,  The skin is of this type has  thick skin - found on the hand palms and soles of the feet,  thin skin - found on the rest of the body

Non-keratinized:  Top layer of cells are living cells with nuclei  Forms a wet covering,  The middle layers are polyhedral,  The surface layer consists of flat squamous cells

• Is found in:  mouth,  oesophagus,  vagina

Stratified cuboidal epithelium

Found: - in the ducts of sweat glands

Stratified columnar epithelium

Found at the back of the eyelid (conjunctiva)

Transitional epithelium

- Sometimes the surface cells are squamous, sometimes cuboidal and sometimes columnar

- The superficial cells are called umbrella cells because they can open and close like umbrellas, when the epithelium stretch and shrink

- Umbrella cells can have 2 nuclei

- Found in the bladder and ureter

Gross anatomy-study of structures that can be identified with the naked eye; usually involves the use of cadavers

• Microscopic anatomy (histology)-study of cells that compose tissues and organs; involves the use of a microscope to study the details of the species
• Developmental anatomy (embryology)-study of an individual from beginning as a single cell to birth
• Comparative anatomy -comparative study of the animal structure in regard to similar organs or regions

Intrinsic muscles

    all innervated by recurrent laryngeal nerve except cricothyroid: external laryngeal nerve
    adductors of vocal folds: bring folds together at midline

    Transverse and oblique arytenoids: pull arytenoids together
    Lateral cricoartenoids: spin and slide arytenoids up
    only one abductor of vocal folds
    
    Posterior cricoarytenoids—down and up
    adjustors of shape and tension of vocal folds

    Cricothyroid muscle
    
o    superficial to lateral cricoarytenoid
o    tenses vocal folds by tilting thyroid cartilage forward and sliding forward

    Thyroartenoid and vocalis muscles
    
o    vocalis: sometimes treated as medial most fibers of thyroartenoid muscle
o    different fiber directions
    
    lateral: adduct
    medial: change shape of folds
    control voice by bring bringing together different parts of folds

o    as move from epithelium to vocalis muscle, fold becomes stiffer
o    near connections, vocal folds are stiffer
o    vocal fold: complex, multilayered vibrator