Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution (CBSPD) Sterile Processing Technician Practice Exam

Smooth muscle cells are characterized by the absence of what feature?

1. Striations

2. Fibers

3. Elasticity

4. Contractility

The correct answer is: Striations

Smooth muscle cells are characterized by the absence of striations. This is a significant distinction that sets smooth muscle apart from skeletal and cardiac muscle, both of which exhibit distinct striations due to their organized arrangement of myofilaments. The lack of striations in smooth muscle is indicative of its more irregular and less organized structure, which is designed to facilitate involuntary movements in various organs, such as the digestive tract and blood vessels. The smooth muscle's function is more about sustained and involuntary contractions, and its cells are typically spindle-shaped, which supports this role. The absence of striations allows for a different mechanism of contraction, where the muscle fibers can contract more uniformly and maintain contractions over longer periods without fatigue.