Dense body

Definition

Dense bodies are protein structures located in the cytoplasm of smooth muscle cells that serve as anchoring points for actin filaments during muscle contraction. They play a crucial role in transmitting contractile forces throughout the smooth muscle tissue.

Related terms

Actin Filaments: Protein threads that, along with myosin, contribute to muscular contraction by sliding past each other to shorten and lengthen muscle fibers.

Smooth Muscle:

A type of muscle tissue which is not under conscious control and found in walls of internal organs such as intestines and blood vessels, functioning involuntarily.

Myosin:

A motor protein that interacts with actin to convert chemical energy into mechanical energy, generating force for muscle contraction