Which type of muscle fiber is characterized by having multiple nuclei per cell?
Solution
Correct Answer: Option C
The type of muscle fiber characterized by having multiple nuclei per cell is the skeletal muscle.
- Skeletal muscle fibers are long, cylindrical cells that develop through the fusion of multiple myoblasts during embryonic development. This fusion results in multinucleated fibers, meaning each muscle fiber contains many nuclei located at the periphery of the cell.
- In contrast, cardiac muscle fibers are branched and typically have a single central nucleus, though occasionally two nuclei can be present.
- Smooth muscle cells are spindle-shaped and contain a single, centrally located nucleus.
- The term myocardial muscle is another name for cardiac muscle, which generally contains one nucleus per cell.
The presence of multiple nuclei in skeletal muscle fibers allows these cells to support the high metabolic and protein synthesis demands required for muscle contraction and repair.
Reference: Gray's Anatomy, 42nd Edition, Volume 1, Chapter 5 – Muscular Tissue
- Skeletal muscle fibers are long, cylindrical cells that develop through the fusion of multiple myoblasts during embryonic development. This fusion results in multinucleated fibers, meaning each muscle fiber contains many nuclei located at the periphery of the cell.
- In contrast, cardiac muscle fibers are branched and typically have a single central nucleus, though occasionally two nuclei can be present.
- Smooth muscle cells are spindle-shaped and contain a single, centrally located nucleus.
- The term myocardial muscle is another name for cardiac muscle, which generally contains one nucleus per cell.
The presence of multiple nuclei in skeletal muscle fibers allows these cells to support the high metabolic and protein synthesis demands required for muscle contraction and repair.
Reference: Gray's Anatomy, 42nd Edition, Volume 1, Chapter 5 – Muscular Tissue
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