smooth muscle

/smuð ˌmʌsəl/

Other forms: smooth muscles

Definitions of smooth muscle

1. noun

   a muscle that contracts without conscious control and found in walls of internal organs such as stomach and intestine and bladder and blood vessels (excluding the heart)
   synonyms: involuntary muscle

   types:

   myometrium

   the smooth muscle forming the wall of the uterus

   musculus sphincter ani internus

   an internal ring of smooth muscle formed by circular fibers of the rectum

   type of:

   muscle, musculus

   one of the contractile organs of the body
2. noun

   muscle tissue that does not appear striated under the microscope; has the form of thin layers or sheets
   type of:

   muscle, muscular tissue

   animal tissue consisting predominantly of contractile cells