When smooth muscle is cut in cross section, you will see the smooth muscle cell nuclei as round purple-staining masses within pink-staining fibers.

There are other nuclei too. Those between the masses of smooth muscle cytoplasm belong to fibroblasts or blood vessels.

Spotting blood vessels is easy when smooth muscle is cut in cross section. The blood vessels run parallel to the fibers, so you will also see them cut in cross-section.

This is smooth muscle, cut in cross section.

With your study partners, find:

• smooth muscle cell nuclei


• blood vessels

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Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences