Cell shapes: spindle

This composite image shows the morphology of spindle-shaped smooth muscle cells.  As shown in the top panel, these cells are long, thin and taper at their ends.  The nucleus is located midway along their length.  This structure allows the cells to assemble into a tissue that forms compact sheets or layers, often forming the wall of hollow organs.  The middle panel shows smooth muscle tissue in the wall of the digestive tract, the bottom panel is an illustration of that region.  Top and middle panels 400x

This composite image shows the morphology of spindle-shaped smooth muscle cells.  As shown in the top panel, these cells are long, thin and taper at their ends.  The nucleus is located midway along their length.  This structure allows the cells to assemble into a tissue that forms compact sheets or layers, often forming the wall of hollow organs.  The middle panel shows smooth muscle tissue in the wall of the digestive tract, the bottom panel is an illustration of that region.  Top and middle panels 400x